Looking Good Feeling Better
"it is all too easy for people to see the illness, rather than the person behind the illness"
Looking good, feeling better….
For teenagers facing the prospect of a very limited future, life brings its own problems over and above the usual range of difficulties every teenager faces. Not the least of these is body image which is seen as a very real problem by both girls and boys. The diagnosis and treatment if cancer for example gives rise to an assault on the individual’s body image which can be particularly acute for teenagers. Studies show that adolescent girls generally have a more negative perception of body image than boys, and for girls with cancer the physical effects of the disease and its treatment can give rise to a whole range of physical effects including weight loss and/or gain, hair loss, skin irritation and extreme fatigue, all of which are a major threat to self esteem.
It is with this in mind that the Care Team has focused on beauty treatments, make-overs, manicures, complementary therapies and treatments, and “girlie” discussion groups as part of the girls’ activities on the designated “Teenage Weekend” facilities. A beauty therapist is brought in to give the girls tips and advice on make-up application techniques, from facial cleansing and beauty treatments, through to step by step instructions on make up application.
The Care Team is aware that life limiting conditions need to be seen as more than simply a physical condition, and should be recognised in social, psychological, spiritual and cultural contexts. The support “package” is offered via an approach which addresses teenage needs, not only in the context of a young woman facing a limited future, but also the complexities of the pressures and demands faced by any other teenager growing up in today’s society . However, at an age when many teenagers are seeking independence from their parents she may find herself necessarily becoming more dependent due to the nature of her illness. It is in meeting and addressing issues such as these that the Care Team is seen as adopting an innovative and highly successful approach to adolescent care.
