Cancer and stigma: experience of patients with chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is one of the most distressing side-effects of chemotherapy. In this article we examine how patients react to hair loss due to chemotherapy; for women in particular, the reaction involves a confrontation with the lethal nature of cancer, whilst for men it is a normal and inevitable consequence of treatment. We then analyse the strategies used to cope with alopecia. One strategy involves camouflaging and hiding; the patients wear wigs in an attempt to partially or completely hide their hair loss. Another strategy is to treat it as commonplace: wearing a wig is played down and banalised. Sometimes this can take the form of provocation, in which case baldness is seen as the symbol of the cancer patient's new identity.
INSERM U 537-CREGAS, 80, Rue du Général Leclerc, 94276 Le Kremlin Bicêtre Cedex, France. rosman@kb.inserm.fr
Sophia
S
Rosman
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents