• Your body image issues might be heightened by your cancer experience.

Dealing with changes to your body as a result of cancer treatment

• Some cancer treatments will not affect the way you look but others can. These changes may be temporary or permanent.

• It is completely normal for you to feel anxious about the physical changes to your body during or after treatment.

• You need to remember that no matter how your physical appearance may have changed, you are still you.

Here are some things you can do to help you cope with the changes to your body:

Give yourself time to get used to how your body may have changed

• Remember, this may take time and that’s ok.

Join a support network

• Talk to other young people who are going through or have already gone through the physical changes you are experiencing due to cancer treatment. Check out our forum topic on Talking about tests and treatments.
  

You may be asked questions from friends or relatives about your appearance

• Friends and family won’t mean any harm, but they may want to ask you questions about your cancer journey and subsequently, changes in your appearance. It is a good idea to think about how you might respond to these questions.

• Or you may decide to simply tell people you don’t want to talk about it. That’s ok too.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about your concerns

• It is always good to get factual information from the right sources.

Speak to a counsellor or seek out a health care professional

• Talking about your feelings can make you feel better and understand why you feel the way you do.

You may not be able to do the same sports/activities as you did before cancer

• Take this as a chance to try something new that you haven’t done before.

Keep your body healthy

• Help yourself to feel good by eating nutritious foods and exercising no more than your body can handle. Talk to your doctor about exactly how much exercise you can be doing.

Regain confidence in how you look

• Wear clothes that make you feel good.

Socialise with the right people

• Hang out with people that make you feel good and accept you as you are.