Changes in Body Image Experienced by Adolescents With Cancer

Abstract

Cancer and its treatments affect adolescents' body image. However, it is not known what factors impinge on adolescents' perception of their body image. This multiple case study explored how 5 adolescents with cancer perceived their body image and the impact of this perception on their daily life. Adolescents described their body image as "I don't look normal," a theme that comprised 2 dimensions: "I look ugly" and "I look sick." For the adolescent with cancer, these 2 dimensions evoked feelings of being vulnerably exposed: "People look at me." Consequently, adolescents adopted a new set of coping strategies to help them manage their physical appearance and social interactions: "avoiding," "maintaining normality," "testing the waters," and "peer-shield" themes. Although the adolescents perceived their body image as altered, coping mechanisms enabled adolescents to think of themselves as normal and re-establish their social lives. The results of this small study suggest 2 potential nursing approaches to facilitate adolescents' adaptation to their new body image.

Perspectives of health professionals on the psychosocial impact of an altered appearance among adolescents treated for cancer and how to improve appearance-related care

“…In accordance with findings from the wider appearance and body image literature (e.g., Moss, 2005), psycho-oncological research indicates that objective measures of visible difference may be less helpful in predicting adjustment than the individual's subjective assessment of the noticeability and severity of the difference (e.g., Wu & Chin, 2003). Among those who display resilience, social support and acceptance of their altered appearance from their family and close friends appear to be protective factors (Larouche & Chin-Peukert, 2006). Adolescents may also gain from using social skills, including confident responses to put others at ease, humour to deflect negative ALTERED APPEARANCE AMONG ADOLESCENT CANCER PATIENTS 4 attention and the provision of information to others in order to explain their difference (Williamson, Harcourt, Halliwell & Wallace;.…”

“…Avoidance is likely to limit opportunities to develop alternative coping strategies to manage stigmatising reactions to their visible difference (Coughlan & Clarke, 2002) and curtail access to vital family, peer and school support that can help patients manage the appearance challenges incurred during the cancer journey (Woodgate, 2006). Support from key friends has been identified as an important resource to enable social activity (Larouche & Chin-Peukert, 2006) and maintain self-esteem (Dumont & Provost, 1999). Most participants were mindful of the importance of social support but not all were aware of the role appearance distress has in deterring patients from accessing this help.…”

Three Themes for Designing Games That Aim to Promote a Positive Body Perception in Hospitalized Children

“…Children in hospital environments can feel restricted, stressed and vulnerable [4]. We believe that setting a scenario where the child controls the situation and feels ownership of the environment can change this.…”

“…These changes affect children's mental and physical body perception resulting in a decrease of children's desire to socialize [4]. Those children isolate themselves avoiding social contact that ends up in a deterioration of their mental and physical health.…”

An e-Prehabilitation System of Care for Teenagers and Young Adults Diagnosed With Cancer: Protocol for a Qualitative Co-Design Study (Preprint)

“…A diagnosis of cancer presents a range of physical, financial and psychosocial challenges for young adults and their families [2,3,4], including disruptions to education / career [5], family life [6], self-esteem / identity [7], peer and sexual relationships and body image [8,9,10]. There is also a need to manage the side effects of treatment, both short and long term, and the possible impacts on future fertility [11,12,13].…”