How you see and feel about your body influences many aspects of your life, including your mental and physical health, how you take care of yourself, your level of confidence, and how you interact with and relate to others.
Cancer and its treatment often change the body and how it functions. Not surprisingly, more than half of all cancer patients struggle with body image at some point in their cancer journey, according to one study.
Patients also reported a host of emotional side effects, including:
- Loss of confidence in their body and its abilities
- The belief that their body has “let them down”
- The sense that their body is weak or vulnerable
Other emotional side effects include depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation, loss of intimacy and overall difficulty getting back to their everyday lives.
Read more about body image and how to manage it from Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-informed supportive therapies designed to help patients physically and emotionally by enhancing their quality of life while managing side effects both during and after treatment.
Stay up to date on all things CTCA! Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube or call the VIP Line at 800.227.3207 for more information.
