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| Looking
Good! These kids made the best of their changing appearance.  “For
Halloween, the kids on my unit and I painted our heads with pictures of
pumpkins, ghosts, and candy corn just for fun. When my hair started to grow back, I wore colored hair mascara, pretty earrings, and a little blush, which made me feel better. ”  Age 13, 1 year after transplant  “My medications
make me bloated, and I have unwanted hair. When I look in the mirror, I
remind myself, ‘It’s only temporary.’” Age 12, 9 months after transplant |
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Weighty IssueCertain medications that are part of your treatment can cause your body to hold onto extra fluids, making it swell. Other drugs may make you hungrier than normal, so you eat more and put on extra pounds. Or, you may have the opposite problem—a lack of appetite that causes you to lose weight and not look yourself. Although your appetite and body size should return to normal once your treatment is over, until then you may worry about your appearance. If your clothes no longer fit, here are some suggestions for keeping you comfortably in style: • Loose shirts or drawstring pants can adjust to your changing size. If you add a few items like these to your wardrobe, you can even share them with older or younger siblings. • It can be expensive to get clothes to fit your new shape. Instead of buying them new, check out second-hand clothing stores or trade clothes with friends. You’re Still You! Although you may feel a little awkward around others at first, don’t let the changes in your appearance make you withdraw from the world. Remember: you’re still you inside! The qualities that other people like and admire in you—your friendliness, your sense of humor, your talents—don’t go away! |