Social adaptation patterns among cancer patients with facial disfigurements resulting from surgery

An assessment of adaptation patterns among cancer patients with facial disfigurements was made by interviewing 152 patients in two head and neck clinics at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo. It was found that 86.2% had adapted to their disfigurement. More specifically, disfigurement seldom was mentioned as a reason for not returning to work and for not participating in social activities with work mates, friends, relatives, and society in general. Disfigurement also seemed to have little effect on involvement in formal groups. Reactions from society toward disfigurement were perceived as being mostly positive (although staring was commonly reported). Reasons for this high level of adaptation are suggested. These include the need to maintain stability of self-concept, age as a stabilizing factor, the positive reaction from society, the nature of the disease itself (so that disfigurement may be seen as being more acceptable (positive) than the alternative of threat of death), the hospitalization experience as it prepares the patient for society's response, and the fact that this is an acquired disfigurement in a patient from a relatively normal population.