Changes in body image experienced by adolescents with cancer.

Full 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.

Author information

Author/s: Larouche, Sandie S (SS); Chin-Peuckert, Lily (L);

Affiliation: Department of Nursing, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. sandielarouche(-atsign-)mcgill.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of pediatric oncology nursing : official journal of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses (J Pediatr Oncol Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Jul-Aug; vol 23 (issue 4) : pp 200-9

Dates: Created 2006/06/12; Completed 2006/08/04;

PMID: 16766685, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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