109: Breast Cancer Update: The Latest Online Support & Experiences of Younger Women

Welcome back to Appearance Matters: The Podcast!

In this month’s episode, Ella speaks to Dr Helena Lewis-Smith, Associate Professor at the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR), along with Fiona and Lucy, who have lived experience of breast cancer and are expert advisors for Helena’s research.

They update us on the findings from Helena’s feasibility trial of the Accepting Your Body After Cancer (ABC) intervention, discuss why many women look for psychosocial support after their cancer treatment has finished, and talk about how younger women might have different experiences and support needs.

If you, or someone close to you is affected by breast cancer, you can find information and support here: https://breastcancernow.org/

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Appearance Matters Conference, hosted by the Centre for Appearance Research (9th – 11th of June 2026), click here: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/centres-and-groups/appearance/news-and-events/am-conference

#psychology #HealthPsychology #VisibleDifference #BreastCancer #BodyImage #BreastReconstruction #WomensHealth

From the show:

- Helena’s ACB intervention protocol paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39843373/

- Episode 20: Breast Cancer and Body Image (https://soundcloud.com/appearance-matters/ep-20-breast-cancer-body-image?si=144c118177704910b80c0f26d1ba5624&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing)

- Summer shorts Series: Breast Cancer and Body Image episode where co-host Maia Thornton talks about a paper she published looking at positive body image in women with breast cancer (https://soundcloud.com/appearance-matters/summer-shorts-series-breast-cancer-and-body-image).

Cover image by Armin Rimoldi via Pexels

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com