Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, July 14:

When a cancer patient or survivor looks at themselves in the mirror, they sometimes don't see the same person.  Even if their body hasn't been temporarily or permanently changed, many people with cancer look at themselves and feel their bodies let them down.

Cancer patients who lost their hair during chemotherapy, had a limb amputated, or gained or lost weight often feel like the world is looking at them and are self-conscious.

Body image is another one of the lasting effects of cancer.  The experts say its entirely normal for someone with cancer to become anxious about how they look or their body functions.

That's why a diagnosis of cancer is such an all encompassing event.  The cancer itself has to be treated physically.  Emotionally, the fear and how a patient feels takes a toll.  But then the realization that everyone a patient comes into contact with can see scars or the effects of the disease or treatment can be devastating.

As part of witf's on-going, interactive initiative Facing Cancer Together, Thursday's Radio Smart talk will focus on body image with three survivors' whose bodies were changed by cancer.  Hear their stories.

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