title: Changes in body image experienced by adolescents with cancer.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. sandielarouche@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Sandie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Larouche
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chin-Peuckert
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001504:Beauty; D001828:Body Image; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires