Self-esteem and confidence

Illness can affect how we feel about ourselves and may affect our confidence.

Your breast cancer may have left you with long-term visible reminders of your experience. These can include surgery scars, weight gain and changes to the skin.

All this can cause you to feel unsure about yourself or how others see you, you may begin to avoid situations where you have to cope with other people’s responses to how you look.

This can affect your self-esteem – how you feel about yourself, how you present yourself to other people and your overall feelings of wellbeing.

Having low or damaged self-esteem can result in problems in your relationships with friends, family, partners and co-workers. Sharing your feelings with your healthcare team or a councilor can help you to feel more confident and comfortable with yourself.

There are times when I wish for the old me that was active and well, used to going to work, socialising, travelling. But you learn to adjust. I have learned a lot and become much stronger.
Diane