The following post is a reprint of a post that first appeared in Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer on August 18, 2011. It appears courtesy of Marie Ennis O’Connor, a breast cancer survivor and the creator, writer and publisher of Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer.
Marie’s Introduction
Sinead Power is a nurse researcher from the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland. She is currently undertaking her PhD. and is particularly interested in examining the effects of chemotherapy induced hair loss on the self-concept of individuals with primary cancer.
In Sinead’s Words
My interest in this area has emerged mainly from my work as an oncology nurse for many years. As a woman myself, I was always struck by patients’ reaction to the news that they would lose their hair.
Through my clinical work and my previous research I have also discovered that some healthcare professionals tend to under-estimate the impact of chemotherapy induced hair loss on patients. This mainly comes from the perception that because hair loss is temporary it will be somehow less traumatic for patients.
However, this is often not the case. Hair looks very different for many patients once it comes back. It is often a different color and texture than it was before.
The change in physical appearance resulting from hair loss can affect may aspects of an individual’s life including their interactions with those inside and outside of their family circle. Hair loss may also impact on how an individual feels psychologically.
Thus, I feel that this is an important area to research. The study has been open to patients since January 2011 and to date, I have 219 responses. A big thank you to all who have taken part. The study is now closed and a report on the findings will soon be made available.
One of the ways results of the study will be published, when they become available, is via Facebook.
Please have a look at this page, you are more than welcome to become a “friend” to the study.
I have interacted with some amazing people from all over the world since the page opened in January of 2011. I hope to use this page to relay information to you all relating to the study’s progress.
