Nurse aims to help patients' body image
Caroline Hood, who led the Macmillan Body Image and Cancer project, has written a booklet for patients to help them deal with the effects of treatment on their appearance.
She has also developed a programme designed to help healthcare professionals learn more about the issues patients face and how they can help.
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Hide AdThe project was supported by a 65,500 grant from Macmillan Cancer Support, in partnership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Ms Hood, who is based at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, said: "Cancer can change the way an individual thinks and feels about their body and themselves.
"We know changes experienced can have a huge impact on an individual's life, but often these concerns are not disclosed.
"This can be because they feel that they should simply be thankful for surviving a cancer diagnosis or worry about appearing vain."
Macmillan said that for some people, cancer and its treatment could have a major impact.
Procedures such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy could change the way someone looked, how their body worked or how they felt.