Tips on coping with body image issues after cancer

Ask for help if things are getting too much

Jude 

Being on steroids made me gain a lot of weight and I was very critical of myself. You are weighed at the hospital, and they told me that I was about 16 stone. I thought: ‘This weight needs to go’. I developed an eating disorder. 

The medical staff noticed that I’d dropping weight too quickly, about a stone a month, and they realised that something wasn’t right. I talked to my Teenage Cancer Trust nurse Julia about it and that helped, and she referred me for psychology. That helped me a lot.  

I was depressed and in a very dark place, it was a dangerous time, but I’m OK now. 

My advice to people with cancer who are struggling with body image issues is to try to remember that it’s only temporary - you’ll get back to normal. And if things are getting too much you need to ask for help.

Have confidence in yourself 

Billie 

Because I’d lost so much weight and lost some of my hair, I struggled to look in the mirror without thinking: ‘Who is this person?’ I didn’t recognise myself.  

Before cancer I had really long curly hair. It was almost down to my knees. When it thinned, I was given a wig, and I wore that all of the time, even for chemo. 

My clothes hung off me. I was so weak that I had to use a wheelchair, and I didn’t like that. I tried to walk where I could but then I’d be really worn out afterwards. 

The number one piece of advice that I would give people with cancer who are struggling with their appearance would be to have confidence in yourself.  

You’ll get back to how you were eventually, even if you feel right now that it could be forever away. 

The illness doesn’t make you any less beautiful.

You can get back to being you

Izzy

After a year and a half of treatment I just wanted to feel like me again, but I didn’t look like me. 

I found myself comparing myself to friends. We’d go for a coffee or dinner, and they would look lovely, and I felt like I didn’t.  

Before treatment I’d had long blonde hair but as my hair grew back it looked like I’d had a buzzcut by choice, which I really didn’t like.  My body had changed too, and I remember my boyfriend asking me why I’d started dressing like a 50-year-old woman!

Try to appreciate what your body is doing for you at this moment - trying to help you get better - because your health is the most important thing.   

Unfortunately, your appearance will change and you’re going to have to ride the wave.  But please know that you’re not going to look like the way you do now forever and can get back to being you. 

Finding other people online who were going through the same thing really helped me. 

Don’t let cancer stop you from living your life 

Freddie

Cancer has changed my appearance but also made me who I am today. Recently, a child looked at where my eye used to be then ran away…but it’s fine. My advice would be to not judge, rather try and embrace people’s natural inquisitiveness and smile.

Cancer sucks and having four cancer diagnoses sucks even more. However, I’m now in remission, enjoying being a young person and studying architecture at Canterbury University.  

It’s tough but try to stay positive. Cancer shouldn’t stop you from living your life.

Find something to make you feel better

Gaby

“My top tip to other young people would be to find something, even if it’s small, to make you feel better. Whether that’s different clothes, hats or scarves that give you a confidence boost. Even if it seems little, having extra aspects to boost you can make a world of difference. 

“Sometimes I found that I gave up with myself. I didn’t really bother wearing nice clothes. I was putting on leggings and t-shirts or staying in my pyjamas. But once I started dressing in what I used to wear before, or prettier clothes, I started to feel a lot more confident. Even though nothing changed with my body, things like wearing going out clothes made me feel better about myself.

“If anyone is struggling with how their scars look, I would say that it gets better, and the scars will fade. I’m now proud of mine as it shows what I have been through. I battled cancer and made it out the other side.”