Your self image is about more than your physical body. It also includes your overall sense of wholeness, how you feel about yourself, your appearance and your sexuality, and how you relate to others. Breast cancer treatment can affect your self image and sexuality in many ways.
The following information describes how treatment affects sexuality, how breast changes can affect sexuality , and offers suggestions for how to cope with these changes.
How treatment affects sexuality
Some people experience changes in their sexuality due to the physical effects of treatment as well as the emotional impact of breast cancer. From the time of your diagnosis to after your treatment has finished, you may not feel interested in sex and your sexual activity may decrease or stop completely. It can take time for you and your sexual partner(s) to find ways of adapting to the effects of breast cancer on your sexuality.
Treatments for breast cancer can have the following physical effects on sexuality:
- For many women, the breasts are an erogenous (sexual) part of the body, and losing one or both breasts can have a significant impact on sexual satisfaction.
- Surgery and radiation therapy may cause breast sensitivity or pain.
- Chemotherapy can reduce sex drive.
- Hormone therapy may cause vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms.
- The side effects and fatigue that result from treatment can affect your mood and reduce your interest in sex.
How breast changes affect sexuality
For many women, the breasts are an important part of their identity and sexuality as a woman. If this is true for you, after breast cancer treatment you may feel that you have changed physically or feel less attractive.
After breast cancer surgery, it can be difficult to adjust to the physical changes and the emotions that accompany the loss of a breast or both breasts, or a change of appearance to one or both breasts. Surgery and other treatments may leave you feeling violated. You may feel less attractive, less connected to your body or let down by your body. You may also worry about whether your current or future sexual partner(s) will find you desirable and attractive.
These are all normal feelings, and it may take time to be able to cope emotionally with any form of sexual activity.
Suggestions for coping with changes in your sexuality
Sexuality is a difficult subject for some people. For many people it can become a challenge due to an illness like breast cancer. Open communication can go a long way in helping intimate partners deal with the changes that might occur in their sex life. The experience may also help partners build emotional intimacy and bring them closer together.
The following suggestions may help you:
- Let your sexual partner(s) know about the changes you experience related to your sexuality, both physically and emotionally.
- Enjoy physical closeness through holding hands, hugging, kissing, massage or other ways that feel comfortable.
- Take things slowly and think about what forms of sexual intimacy you are interested in.
- If you experience vaginal dryness, use a lubricant available from a pharmacy.
- Ask your health care team for suggestions to lessen some of the side effects of treatment that are affecting your sexuality.
- If you are interested, explore the options for breast reconstruction with your health care team.
- Try to find ways to feel better about your body: talk to trusted friends or family members, seek out peer support or a support group, try self-nurturing activities like getting a massage or doing yoga. Be kind to yourself.
If you are having difficulty dealing with issues related to sexuality, it may help to speak to a counsellor, either alone or with your partner, if you have one. Your health care team may be able to direct you to professionals with special training in addressing the changes in sexuality and sexual functioning.
Read more about living with breast cancer: your emotions, your relationships, fertility, communicating with your children, and coping with practical and financial issues
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