A cancer diagnosis changes everything – your health, your perspective and often, your sense of self. Whilst surviving cancer is an incredible victory, the road to recovery doesn’t end with the last treatment. For many survivors, one of the most difficult battles is reclaiming self-confidence and rebuilding a positive self-image.
Whether you’ve undergone surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of treatments, your body and mind have endured an extraordinary challenge. We look at a few examples of support available to help you begin the journey of rediscovering and reclaiming your self-confidence.
Caring for your skin, nails and hair following cancer
Side effects such as hair loss or changes to your skin and nails can affect how you see yourself. Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors are specially trained to provide face-to-face advice to those who are going through and have had cancer treatment. They can show you how to use products to manage changes to your skin and to enhance facial features such as sparse eyebrows, lashes and brittle nails. They will also listen to your worries and concerns and guide you to sources of information or support if requested.
There are many haircare specialists capable of providing you with advice and services to help with hairloss following cancer. A good starting point is consulting with your oncology team to understand the nature of your hair loss, whether it’s a temporary side effect of chemotherapy, potentially permanent due to radiation, or influenced by other factors like hormone therapy or stress. This initial conversation helps set realistic expectations for regrowth and can offer invaluable referrals to professionals experienced with post-cancer hair challenges. Outside of medical treatment there are many other options available to explore including weaves and wigs that can help you reclaim your image whilst you pursue other therapies as a longer-term solution.
Bonita Andre, a hair loss specialist and cancer survivor based in Bristol said ” Hair loss from chemo and other causes can be tough – but you don’t have to go through it alone. I started my business after losing my mum from cancer and from that hard time came a career I truly care about. In my experience offering a range of hair loss solutions there is always something that can work for each person and help them reclaim their independence “.
Finding the right supportive clothing
If you have had surgery as part of your cancer treatment, you may need to look into supportive and adaptive clothing. Many fashion brands now offer clothing that can be tailored for your needs, for example adjustable fits, stretch panels and ostomy friendly items. If you’ve undergone a mastectomy, you might prefer to use specially designed bras or swimwear that can accommodate prosthetics, minimise irritation and support healing. Cancer Research UK offer a range of products. Wearing clothing that is comfortable, practical, yet still reflects your identity can aid in recovery and help to establish a sense of control and self-confidence.
Looking after your mental wellbeing
Confidence is hard to build in isolation. Sharing your story and hearing others’ journeys can help you feel less alone and more empowered. Many cancer charities offer support groups. One example is Maggie’s who hold support groups led by a psychologist or cancer support specialist and focus on the emotional impact of cancer. They offer various types of support groups including bereavement, young people and older people.
How can we help?
Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can be a huge challenge for you and your loved ones even without having to deal with the additional stress and worry brought on by something having gone wrong in your care. Within our role of guiding you through the process of a medical negligence claim, we can also help you to access the additional services and support you need. Compensation cannot fix what has happened, but it can take away the worry of how to deal with the financial struggles associated with your cancer treatment. A successful claim can ensure you have access to money for cosmetic surgery, hairloss treatment as well as any other therapy you may need to get you build back your self confidence and resilience.
If you would like to have a free confidential discussion with one of our expert cancer claim solicitors contact us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form and we will call you back.
