Body and Self-Image

Mind & Body | GIST in Your World (Relationships) | GIST at Different Stages of Life | End of Life

Body Image

GIST and GIST treatments can create changes in your body. These changes can affect the way you perceive your body and your appearance, your body image.

These changes can include appearance:

Surgical scars
Colostomy bags
Weight loss/gain
Hair thinning
Swelling
Rashes

You might be feeling self-conscious, like everyone is looking at you. You might feel "branded" as a cancer patient and embarrassed of your appearance.

There can also be hidden changes:

Surgical scars

You need to be mindful of body image concerns with these changes. Even though other people cannot see these changes they can still make you feel insecure about your body. You may even believe that people can see these changes, even if it is impossible.

Body image can also be affected by changes in how your body performs:

Coordination
Fatigue
Infertility

These changes in particular can make you feel "weak", "damaged" or even "deficient".

Ways in which you can cope with body image concerns:

Talk to other cancer survivors. Become a member of the LRG email community and you can express your concerns to hundreds of other patients. Most of the people have dealt with or are stilling dealing with the same issues as you. Check our Support Programs section to find a face-to-face group in your area and express your concerns that way. Make sure you reach out to friends and family for support. Remember that although they do not want to hurt your feelings, they care most about your well-being. They will talk to you openly and honestly if you ask them to do so.
Be prepared for questions or comments about your body and appearance and practice replies. This may seem silly at first, but it can help relieve some of the tension you have about your body. Rehearsing responses to questions will help you feel more comfortable about your body changes. Remember, these changes are not the result of something you did to yourself. They are side-effects of your cancer and its treatments. You are a GIST survivor and you should be proud of that fact. Being ready with an answer when someone asks you a question means that you don’t have to spend time explaining yourself, because you shouldn’t have to explain yourself to anyone.
Don’t take other people’s reactions to heart. Sometimes people will say something negative about your appearance. In most cases, they are not trying to be malicious; they just do not know what to say.
If you feel uncomfortable about hair thinning or skin rashes, experiment with makeup and wigs. Do not be ashamed to wear them, if they make you feel better about yourself then they are exactly what you need.
Take care of your body (get lots of rest, practice good nutrition and exercise), and try doing activities or sports that you used to enjoy. These will make you and your body feel better and you will regain some of the confidence that you have lost. If you are not up to your favorite activities, try finding something new to enjoy.

Self Image

Not all changes GIST can cause deal with physical appearance or the body. Some of these changes are mental and/or emotional and create self image concerns in you. A person’s self image is a mental picture s/he has of his/herself. This not only includes body image but things you have learned about yourself. This might include your answer to questions like Am I strong? Am I likeable? Am I a quick-learner? Your self image is affected a great deal by what you think others think about as well.

You might think that the answers to some of these questions have changed. If so, you are probably experiencing self image issues. You might be feeling like you are losing your sense of self and you are no longer the person you once were. All of these feelings are common in cancer survivors. However, they don’t have to remain. Here are several ways you can feel a sense of control over these mental changes.

Just as with body image, ask for help. You need a strong support system around you. If you can’t turn to friends or family, go to a support group. Speak to others like you.
Coping takes time. Don’t expect to bounce back immediately. It may take you years to fully accept these changes that you have occurred; keep working on it everyday. The rewards greatly outweigh the effort.
Laugh! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Remind yourself that you are a cancer survivor, someone fighting for life. Embrace it.

Speak to a professional if you feel like none of your efforts are working. Many psychotherapists specialize in cancer survivors. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help.

Remember, you may look and feel differently but you are the same person inside. Repeat this to yourself if you feel your confidence wavering, “GIST is an illness I have, it is not who I am.”