ABSTRACT
Having cancer at a young age is always a shocking experience for patients. The stages that must be passed through from diagnosis to treatment burden their psychological conditions. During these stages, the patients experience various changes and losses. One of them is hair loss due to chemotherapy or Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (CIA). CIA has been proven to be internalised by women as a profound loss, as the treatment’s effect can decrease their self-esteem. This research conducted in-depth analysis of three young adult women with cancer on how they live with hair loss. Next, a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) approach intervention was given individually, consisting of seven sessions (two presessions, four intervention sessions, and a follow-up session). Each session lasted around 90–120 minutes. A Revised Janis and Field Scale questionnaire was used to measure self-esteem at pre-test and post-test. The result of qualitative and quantitative assessment indicated a positive change in their perspectives of themselves and their experiences of hair loss. This research shows that intervention with a SFBT approach could increase the self-esteem of young adult women with cancer who experience CIA.
