Coping with Body Changes
- As Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain, 58, ages, she refuses to let her bodily changes bring her down. In fact, she’s using it to fuel her new “fierce” era.
- The “I’m Gonna Getcha Good” singer recently opened up about how menopause has changed her life in a recent interview.
- Menopause is described by the National Institute on Aging, as “a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.” Additionally, “The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.”
- “The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity,” the institute explains.
- Appreciating your body and all that it has accomplished is a beautiful thing, just as Shania Twain shows. We only get one body, and we’re partners with it for life. So, why not try to love the skin you’re in?
The “I’m Gonna Getcha Good” singer recently opened up about how menopause, which is described the National Institute on Aging as a normal part of aging which typically begins in women between the ages of 45 and 55, has had a positive affect on her.
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Twain continued, “I always sing about being fearless and all of that. I go there when I write. But I’m not living it the way I’m writing it. And I want to live the way I write.
“I’m more fierce than I ever was because I really demanded it about myself.”
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Reflecting on her new outlook on life and her decision to have a “sexy” cover photo of herself on her 2022 single “Waking Up Dreaming.”
“I like to feel sexy, and I like to enjoy my body more now than ever. I used to hate my body. So when my body was young and, I guess, maybe one wouldn’t be afraid of exhibiting it, I was hiding it a lot,” she explained.
“I think I needed to capture where I am right now, because it’s a moment that I want to remember. So I just had to be brave about it, to own it. And I felt really good that I felt like, ‘Yeah, I’m OK with that.’
“I need to be able to look at myself in the mirror every day. I’m perfectly the way I should be. This is the way I should be at my age. I’m fine with it. And I’m not afraid of it anymore. It’s all good.”
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In an interview with Extra TV, published earlier this year, she added, “I do this naked photo shoot, and it changed everything for me.”
“I want to be able to stand and go, ‘Yes, I am a woman that is comfortable in her own skin.’ It’s not like I’m trying to show my nakedness to the world,” she said.
“I’m trying to show that confidence in your own nakedness is necessary.”
Learning About Menopause
Menopause is described by the National Institute on Aging, as “a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.” Additionally, “The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.”
The average age women go through the menopausal transition, which usually lasts approximately seven to 14 years, ranges between ages 45 and 55.
“The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity,” the institute explains.
“The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. The body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and women may gain weight more easily. You may experience changes in your bone or heart health, your body shape and composition, or your physical function.”
Women dealing with menopause will may notice the following changes in their body:
- Menstruation changes
- Hot Flashes
- Bladder control issues
- Difficulty sleeping
- Vaginal health and sexuality changes
- Mood changes
- Body changes
- Aches and pains
There’s also something called early menopause, which the National Cancer Institute explains as a condition which causes the ovaries to stop working and menstrual periods to stop before a woman turns 40. It’s a transition that can lead to fertility issues and symptoms of menopause.
Additionally, early menopause is split up into two types, primary and secondary. According to the National Cancer Institute, “There are two types of early menopause, primary and secondary. Primary early menopause means that the ovaries do not function normally. This may be because they have been removed by surgery, or it may be caused by some cancer treatments and certain diseases or genetic conditions.
“In secondary early menopause, the ovaries are normal but there is a problem getting hormone signals to them from the brain. This is usually caused by diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Some women with early menopause sometimes have menstrual periods and may be able to have children. Also called ovarian failure, ovarian insufficiency, and premature menopause.”
Coping With Body Image Through Health Changes
Appreciating your body and all that it has accomplished is a beautiful thing, just as Shania Twain shows. We only get one body, and we’re partners with it for life. So, why not try to love the skin you’re in?
That being said, body positivity is easier said than done. And cancer survivors or women dealing with menopause may struggle more than others during or after their cancer journeys or body changes.
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Take Ann Caruso, for example. She had 12 surgeries to treat her breast cancer and told SurvivorNet about how all of the changes really impacted the way she saw her body.
“You’re not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day,” Caruso said. “It was like I was a totally different person and didn’t fit into any of my clothes for so long.”
But time is a powerful healer. Looking back on her breast cancer experience has helped her redefine femininity and body image.
“Femininity is a state of mind,” Caruso said. “And I think that’s something that we have to remind ourselves.”
Another breast cancer survivor, Jaclyn Kaczynski, had a similar experience after her diagnosis at 37.
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“My confidence was gone,” she told SurvivorNet. “My confidence was destroyed. I was always vain about my appearance and my weight, let alone losing a breast, or both.”
Some people find empowerment in going “flat” after losing their breasts to the disease, but Kaczynski found confidence in reconstruction. There’s no right or wrong answer for breast cancer survivors, but it’s important to consider all your options and go forward with whatever path is best for you.
“I just had my reconstructive surgery,” she said. “My favorite doctor was able to make it happen for me. It’s amazing how much more confidence I have within the past three weeks.”
Coping With Your New Body
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, previously told SurvivorNet that it’s common for survivors to struggle with the physical part of their cancer journey, something women dealing with menopause can also relate to.
“Your body has changed and represents this difficult chapter in your life and simply accepting all of that is far too simple.
She suggests you sit with your body in front of the mirror and spend time looking at the parts you truly love.
“Give them time, honor them and then thank them,” Strongin says.
Then spend time looking at the part (or parts) of your body that has been impacted by cancer, such as your chest where your breasts have been removed, or your head where there is no longer hair.
“At first you may experience a flood of emotions this is expected and normal. As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.
“It may not happen immediately, but with time you can begin honoring and thanking that part of your body by creating a more accepting relationship with yourself,” Strongin explains.
Body image is about both the mental picture you have and how you feel when you look in the mirror, she says.
“Therefore, it is important that you create a ritual and practice that allows you to better accept your cancer journey both emotionally and physically.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re experiencing physical changes during your cancer journey or menopause, here are some questions you can consider asking your doctor:
- I am experiencing certain bodily changes. What exactly is causing them?
- Are there ways to manage or minimize these changes?
- I’m struggling to cope with the changes to my body. Is there someone I can talk to about it?
- Is there a social worker here who can help connect me with a therapist?
- What resources are available to help me find a local support group?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.