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EMOTIONAL HEALTH /// CHAPTER 71
Body Image
At some stage during your cancer treatment, you
might look in the mirror and think " who is that
person?? " Cancer treatments may cause hair loss,
changes in weight, acne or dry skin, reddening
or scarring. Surgeries may require removal of
a tumor that changes the way your body looks
and functions. It is a challenge to adjust to these
changes, especially if they were out of your
control. You may be uncomfortable about your
appearance and about feeling different. It is hard
not to be affected by these changes. How you look
is often tied up with how you feel about yourself.
Even changes that are not visible on the outside
can have an impact on how you feel about
yourself. It doesn't make you vain or selfish to be
worried about your physical appearance and how
people see you.
You might feel:
» Loss of confidence and self-esteem - you might be really
self-conscious of your physical changes and avoid doing
wearing the clothes you used to and doing the things you
used to do like going to the beach, playing sports.
» Shy - you don't feel like hanging out with friends or
going out in public.
» Frustrated - that your body doesn't work like it used to.
» Angry - it is not fair that you had to go through this
and that you had no control over the changes that have
happened.
» Nervous - that you will be laughed at or stared at.
» Embarrassed or ashamed - about the way you look now.
» Grief - over the loss of your 'old' body.
» Scared - that your friends, partner and colleagues will
treat you differently.
» Worried - about being less attractive and not being able
to find a boyfriend or girlfriend in the future.
Changing Body Judgments:
You may find yourself standing in front of the mirror feeling
negative about the way your body looks now. You may be
trying to exercise (or even just walk to the kitchen) and
become frustrated that your body is easily fatigued from
activities that used to be easy for you before cancer. In these
moments, you may be quick to use judgmental language
toward your body. Research has shown us that using
negative language can make negative emotions worse.
The first important step is practicing self-compassion to
decrease associated distress. Consider how you might
respond to a close friend going through a similar experience.
Try talking about your body from a factual perspective that
does not utilize harsh words: for example, " I am much more
tired when I try to __________ " rather than using a judgment
like, " I am so fat and lazy. " Compassionate self-talk can
decrease the level of negative emotions you feel about your
body.

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What Do I Do Now?

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