Improving Body Image During and After Cancer Treatment
For some, cancer and its treatment can cause significant physical changes to the body. These changes can affect a person’s body image and reduce their sense of self-esteem and wellbeing.
To help people cope with these changes, CancerCare is partnering with Me-therapy, a free online resource for improving body image and managing physical changes associated with cancer.
“Participating in this online program is a unique opportunity for anyone facing cancer, as it gives men and women the chance to work through some of the body-image changes that they might be struggling with during or after treatment,” says CancerCare Social Work Internship Program Director, Maria Chi, LCSW. “The program provides tools to help people become more mindful of the present moment and how their thinking patterns directly affect what they’re feeling.”
Through this program, participants can learn to:
- Use skills to manage negative body image emotions during treatment and recovery
- Calm feelings of lack of control or fear
- Discover one’s own capacity for healing and acceptance
The online mindfulness-based program features video clips, text and audio resources to teach participants how to challenge behaviors and thoughts that characterize negative body image. CancerCare’s team of oncology social workers will also provide direct email support as “body image buddies” to better address users’ unique needs.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older. To register, visit www.Me-therapy.org.