The Impact of Breast Cancer on Self-Image
- Surviving Breast Cancer
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
By Kiara Ford
A breast cancer diagnosis brings about many losses. These may include: the loss of ability to work and engage in family and social life as you once did, the fear of loss of life, and the loss of self-image. Breast cancer often leads to changes in appearance in ways that can feel dehumanizing or outside of traditional aesthetic standards.
While to some this loss may seem small compared to everything else being impacted by the disease, the blow to self-esteem these losses can cause is devastating, and contributes further stress to an already difficult situation. It is important to normalize discussion of these losses and acknowledge that the pain they cause is valid. Continue reading to learn how side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, and surgical changes can impact those with cancer – and how to acknowledge and process the emotions that come along with them.
Treatment-related weight gain
Weight gain is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. This can be caused by numerous factors. It may be more difficult to exercise during cancer treatment due to pain, fatigue, and nausea. Additionally, some medications and treatments can cause weight gain, such as steroids or corticosteroids, which can increase appetite. Corticosteroids in particular can also increase fatty tissue, which may additionally cause loss of muscle mass.
Chemotherapy is another common cause of weight gain. Despite the nausea often associated with chemotherapy, some people find that treatment causes them to crave sweets and carbohydrates. Additionally, it can bring on early menopause, which can slow metabolism and cause weight gain around the stomach. On average, women gain between 5 to 14 pounds over the course of a year during chemotherapy.
While these treatments can be life-saving, the side effects are incredibly difficult to experience. It is important to remember that our society in particular glorifies a “thin ideal,” which can make any amount of weight gain feel distressing. For those who are used to their body looking a certain way, this sudden loss of control can be deeply upsetting and cause major blows to their confidence and self-worth.
Chemotherapy and hair loss
Another side effect of chemotherapy which can be harmful to an individual’s self-image is hair loss. Hair is something many people take for granted until they start losing it, at which point they realize what a major role it played in their confidence. Chemotherapy targets any fast-growing cells in the body in the hope of eradicating cancer cells, but this means it also targets the fast-growing cells in the roots of the hair. This typically causes hair to fall out about two to four weeks after the beginning of treatment. The amount lost and how quickly it falls out will depend on individual treatment, but any amount can feel overwhelming.
For women in particular, a long head of hair can be associated with beauty and femininity, and the loss of it can bring these two things into question. A bald head on women is also often identified as a sign of cancer – information which an individual may want to remain private. While there may be some comfort found in remembering that hair loss is usually temporary and that wigs can be worn during treatment, it is also important to acknowledge that even with these reassurances, hair loss can be upsetting.
Mastectomies: a permanent physical change
One final and particularly important matter to discuss in relation to self-image is mastectomies. A mastectomy is a surgery which removes all breast tissue, and may include some breast skin and the nipple in some cases. Unlike weight gain and hair loss, the bodily changes caused by a mastectomy are permanent, and may feel like a much heavier decision than other treatment options.
Although mastectomies and other breast surgeries can have benefits for both treating breast cancer and reducing the risk of recurrence, surgical recovery is physically difficult and can alter the way a woman regards her body. Reconstructive surgery is an option that can help restore breast shape through the use of implants, tissue reconstruction, or a combination of both. This may help improve self-esteem for some people post-mastectomy, and may in particular help to restore feelings of femininity for those that desire it. That being said, breast reconstruction is a very personal decision and many people opt instead for aesthetic flat closure. No one should feel obligated to have reconstructive surgery if they do not want it, and beauty is not contingent on breast tissue. Nevertheless, no matter the reconstruction decision, many people mourn the loss of their pre-surgery body.
Physical changes compound cancer challenges
Nothing about breast cancer is easy. Physical changes are just one more challenge that people with breast cancer face every day. When a health situation like cancer is out of someone’s control, it can be particularly painful to also lose control of physical appearance – something they had previously been able to craft and decide for themselves.
For people experiencing these changes, it’s important to acknowledge any challenging emotions as they come up and process them in your own time.
If someone you love is experiencing these physical changes, you may feel the urge to reassure them that they are beautiful no matter what. However, it’s also important to validate that what they are going through is hard, without dismissing their feelings. Listen to your loved one express themselves about these changes, and let them know that you’re there for them through it all.
Read more:
On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations
Breast Reconstruction and Plastic Surgery Explained
About the Author:
Kiara Ford is a graduate of Emerson College, where she majored in communication studies and minored in health and society. She is a certified community health worker and has worked extensively in disability advocacy. She is passionate about health equity, and hopes to raise awareness and increase understanding of patients’ rights through her work.
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