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Living Well With MBC > Looking After Yourself > Be comfortable with your body

 

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Be comfortable with your body

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Living with metastatic breast cancer may have changed the way you think and feel about your body. At times, you may feel sad or anxious about the way you look. Those feelings are common. Breast cancer and its treatment can cause changes to your body and appearance.

How to achieve a healthier body image

It’s important to remember that our negative thoughts about our body might not be true. Our partners and those around us are generally more accepting of our bodies than we than we are.

Here are some tips to help you achieve a healthier body image:

  • Talk about how you feel about your body with people you feel comfortable. It may be helpful to write down your feelings in a journal and share them later.9
  • Think about what you love about your body, like your smile, eyes, or nose. Focus on these aspects, rather than concentrating on the things you don’t like.10
  • Try saying body positive affirmations, such as:
    • I love and respect my body
    • I am more than my body
    • My body has endured a lot and needs my support
  • Don’t try to compare your body to others (or to the time before you had breast cancer).12
  • Remember you are more than your body. Try to focus on your qualities, values, and accomplishments. Perhaps you are a great cook, a talented writer, or a supportive friend.

Your body has gone through a lot, and it continues to endure a lot now. Why not celebrate that? Your body deserves some love and care for all it is going through. Below are a few ideas for pampering it:

  • Take a long soak in a fragrant bubble bath
  • Try a new hairstyle
  • Buy a fancy moisturizer and massage it into your skin
  • Treat yourself to your favorite comfort food or a meal at your favorite restaurant
  • Get a manicure or pedicure
  • Visit a spa for a massage or a facial

For the latest guidelines about COVID-19, visit  World Health Organization

If you find yourself really struggling with body image issues related to your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, there are programs that can help. There are psychologists and counselors who specialize in body image issues for those who’ve been diagnosed with cancer.13 Ask a member of your healthcare team for a referral.