Improving body image after breast cancer treatment

What’s the title of the study?

Testing a body image programme

What’s the study about?

Many women feel unhappy with how their body looks and feels following treatment for breast cancer.

This research aims to explore and evaluate online delivery of a group-based programme, called ‘Accepting your Body after Cancer’ (ABC).

ABC was found to be helpful when tested in a small study. However, higher numbers of women could access ABC if it was delivered online.

This study will help the researchers understand whether it’s feasible to carry out a larger study and how best it should be done to meet women’s needs.

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Helena Lewis-Smith

Job title: Associate Professor

Organisation: University of the West of England

Email address: Helena.lewis-smith@uwe.ac.uk

Phone number: 0117 328 1895

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

• Are aged 18 or over
• Identify as a woman
• Have finished active treatment for breast cancer
• Are experiencing body image concerns as a result of treatment (or worsening of pre-existing body image concerns)

Active treatment for breast cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted treatments and immunotherapy. Women taking hormone therapy can take part.

Why do you want me to be involved?

This study hopes to provide resources that will help you feel more comfortable in your body.

Your participation will also help researchers develop better body image support for women following treatment for breast cancer.

This will hopefully lead to the implementation of standard body image support for women after breast cancer treatment.

What will you ask me to do?

People who join the study will be allocated to one of 2 groups completely by random: ABC or standard care.

If you’re allocated to ABC, you will take part in the 7-session body image programme and be asked to provide feedback at the end.

The body image sessions will take place in October, and each session will last 7 hours. These will all take place online via Microsoft Teams at a time between 9-5.

If you’re allocated to ‘standard care’, you’ll receive a booklet that provides information on improving your body image after cancer.

Whichever group you’re allocated to, you’ll be asked to complete questionnaires at 4 regular intervals throughout the study (at the beginning of the study, and at 2, 5, and 8 months). These questionnaires will explore your thoughts and feelings relating to your body, as well as your mood, sexual wellbeing, and quality of life.

The researchers may also ask to interview you about your experience of taking part in the study.

How do I get involved?

You can register your interest online.

You can also find more information by contacting Dr Helena Lewis-Smith, the lead researcher of the study, via phone, on 0117 328 1895 or email at Helena.lewis-smith@uwe.ac.uk.

When’s the deadline?

15 October 2024