Speakers


Prof Diana Harcourt

Diana is Professor of Appearance and Health Psychology at the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR – www.uwe.ac.uk/car) at the University of the West of England in Bristol – a team of 30 psychologists researching the role of appearance and body image in people’s lives and promoting acceptance of diversity of appearance.  Her research focuses around the psychological and social impact of an altered or unusual appearance, including appearance changes associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the development and evaluation of interventions to support those who are affected.  Her work is driven by the experiences of people with relevant lived experiences and involves close collaborations with a range of charities and support organisations to ensure that research can impact positively on the provision of appropriate evidence-based psychosocial support. She sits on the editorial board of the journals Body Image, and Scars, Burns & Healing and is co-editor of the second edition of The Oxford Handbook of the Psychology of Appearance which is due to be published in 2026.


Presentation title: Increasing access to evidence-based support for people with appearance-related concerns following a cancer diagnosis.

There is growing recognition and evidence of the potential psychosocial impact of changes to appearance and body image as a consequence of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. These changes can be extensive and enduring and may have a significant impact on those affected, including social interactions, relationships, wellbeing and quality of life.  Whilst some people manage these challenges well, others struggle and could benefit from psychosocial support specific to appearance and body image. Yet, evidence-based support is still limited and can be difficult to access.

This presentation will consider the need for support that is specific to appearance-related issues, and outline the development and evaluation of a range of interventions. This will include some which are cancer-specific and others that have been developed to meet the generic support needs of people with an appearance that is in any way different to ‘the norm’ – all of which could benefit people whose lives are affected by cancer.  A new website making appearance-related support easily accessible will be introduced, and areas in need of further research will be highlighted.




                                                                                                                              

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