WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- Fifty-seven percent of U.S. women undergoing cancer treatment say their appearance affects the way co-workers treat them, a U.S. survey finds.
Sixty-nine percent said their appearance changed somewhat during chemotherapy or radiation, and 83 percent indicated they were somewhat self-conscious of their appearance during treatment, according to the survey of 400 cancer survivors conducted by the Cincinnati-based research firm R.L. Repass & Partners.
Nearly half of the women surveyed said that the change in their appearance during treatment resulted in friends treating them somewhat differently, but less than half sought help to cope with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
A free, nationwide cancer support program, Look Good ... Feel Better teams volunteer beauty professionals with small groups of cancer patients to show them how to use cosmetics, wigs and head coverings to camouflage the appearance effects of cancer treatment including hair loss, skin discoloration and extreme dryness, according to the Web site lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
The survey is being released in conjunction with National Cancer Survivors Day, Sunday.
