Treatments for medical conditions like cancer and heart disease can leave lasting physical and mental scars. Research showed that 58% of people who underwent treatment for cancer had a negative body image as a result.
Nicolette M. Bernhardt, PsyD, is a board-certified clinical health psychologist at Northwestern Medicine, who works with many patients who have undergone surgery, radiation, and other treatments (like chemotherapy) that can change their physical appearance. As a cancer survivor herself, Dr. Bernhardt shares advice on how to cope with body image issues after a major medical event.