Background:

Cancer is a genetic term for several diseases. A challenge people face is the effect of the treatment. Most nurses have or will encounter a situation where patients´ appearance has changed. In these kind of situations the body image is important. Through a model that Price has developed we can understand the importance of the body image. The model consists of three components: body ideal, body reality and body presentation.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to describe patients' experience to live with an altered appearance.

Method:

The literature review is based on analysis of qualitative data. Ten articles were included and analyzed by the authors. The articles were summarized and complied into a new result.

Results:

The results are based on five themes that shows patients' experience of living with an altered appearance. Patients used different strategies to hide their altered appearance. They also felt that they were treated differently and that people around them tended to behave

differently. The patients didn't recognize themselves after treatment for cancer and felt that they had lost a part of themselves. The patients also felt that the nurses avoided to talk about the altered appearance.

Conclusion:

The results are based on equivalent experiences and perceptions of living with an altered appearance. Patients' experiences are strongly related to their personality. The patients needed nurses to be supportive. Many of the patients felt that the nurses didn't support them enough. The conclusion is that the aid is an important function of the nurse who can help patients to better manage a change like this.