Abstract: It is vital to improve knowledge regarding body image concerns in older cancer patients. This chapter describes complex interactions of cancer and body image in women and men 65 years and older. The chapter is broadly divided by diagnosis, and discusses research from around the globe. Overall, the empirical literature does not (yet) provide enough evidence that attitudes affecting body image in older cancer patients are unequivocally different than younger patients. However, there appears to be a trend which parallels findings regarding attitudes toward body image in healthy populations—namely that body image investment (i.e., the importance placed on appearance) decreases with age. In addition, anecdotes from patients indicate that distress from internal changes that occur with such cancers as ovarian, uterine, and prostate may have a profound impact despite external normal appearance. The chapter includes empirically supported clinical recommendations for approaching body image concerns in this group.
Communication Between Breast Cancer Patients and Their Physicians About Breast-Related Body Image Issues