A CHESTER man diagnosed with cancer aged 21 is the star of a charity's new film highlighting his experience with hair loss during treatment.

Callum Boyd, 24, appears in Teenage Cancer Trust's new #StillMe campaign, which is shining a light on the huge impact that changes to appearance caused by cancer and treatment can have on young people's body image, confidence and self-esteem.  

This month, Callum is one of 20 young people across the UK, whose cancer and treatment has led to scarring, hair loss, huge weight fluctuations, facial tumours and amputations, who are speaking out about their experiences – and offering tips and advice on how to cope.  

Teenage Cancer Trust says body image issues are an important issue for the young people it supports.

The charity hopes the tips and advice from young people like Callum shared in the campaign's inspiring #StillMe online films and at www.teenagecancertrust.org/stillme will help other people struggling with body issues, whatever their age. 

Callum, who now works in London on a graduate scheme at the charity Wellcome Trust, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while in his last year of university in Durham, aged 21.

He was treated in Chester but also received specialist outreach nursing support for young people from Teenage Cancer Trust.

Callum stars in one of the campaign films with hair brand Tangle Teezer, where he highlights the impact losing hair has on young men with cancer. Callum believes that body image concerns related to cancer, like hair loss, are not thought to be as important for men as women and wants to change attitudes by taking part in the #StillMe campaign.

He said: "I lost my hair during treatment and felt like some of the nurses weren't so concerned about it because I was male, and they didn't seem to think that men needed support.

"During the consenting to chemo appointment, hair loss was barely mentioned, and my vivid memory was the box on the form being ticked as N/A for any wig referrals because I was a male patient. Hair loss wasn't considered a big issue, which ate away at me on reflection and I thought, 'why?'

"I wanted to get a wig for two reasons; for myself of course, but also, in a way, to make the point that actually young guys should be asking these sorts of questions and wigs shouldn't be seen as something that are only for young women."

As well as losing his hair, Callum also experienced drastic changes to his weight, and recalls receiving positive reactions from people, which he found frustrating.

He said: "I had people saying 'Callum, you look really well' which is hard to accept when you're on treatment and you look in the mirror and you think 'I genuinely don't'. I was losing a lot of weight and some people would wonder 'how could you complain about that?' but there's losing weight when you want to and there's losing weight when you don't."

Teenage Cancer Trust is also calling for people who have friends or loved ones experiencing body image issues to visit its website to help them better understand what they are going through. 

Callum added: "I hope taking part in the #StillMe campaign helps raise understanding that body image issues during treatment affect men too.

"My advice to those going through it now is that often the narrative with cancer treatment and a cancer diagnosis is that it's life changing and, it is!

"But not everything has to change, there's still bits of your own life that you can keep a hold of, it might come in a different form but it's still important to keep hold of them."

Every day, seven young people in the UK aged 13 to 24 are diagnosed with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust's youth support co-ordinators and nurses, which are based in hospitals and local communities across the UK, provide emotional and practical support that helps young people cope with the impact of cancer on their lives, including the impact of changes to their bodies.    

Kate Collins, CEO of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "Over the past three decades we've supported thousands of young people like Callum through treatment, and we know changes in appearance can be distressing and tough to deal with.    

"The 'ideal' bodies and looks portrayed on Instagram that many young people aspire to are difficult to live up to at the best of times - and the effects of cancer and treatment on appearance, like hair loss, can really add to this pressure.  

"People like Callum are sharing their experiences of how they coped, and this will do so much to help other people facing similar issues. We're really proud and grateful that he is part of our #StillMe campaign."     

For advice from young people involved in the #StillMe campaign about coping with body image issues, and how you can support people with cancer, visit www.teenagecancertrust.org.uk/stillme.