Narrative: The fear of disfigurement in cancer patients

Abstract

Fear of disfigurement affects patients with cancer, in whom the disease or its treatment leaves them permanently marked. Contrary to our thought, disfigurement is equally distressing to male patients, and it causes severe dislocation in their lives. We describe two cases in which disfigurement caused tremendous change in our patients; these cases underline the need for psychotherapy in patients suffering from cancer.