A majority of women find that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment seriously disrupt their sexual lives and create havoc with their body image. Barriers to intimacy and self image may include: physical changes, premature menopause, diminished hormones, pain, vaginal dryness, fear, being preoccupied, fatigue, nausea, depression, anger, feeling unsafe, angry, depressed, and feeling betrayed by one’s own body. Also, as much as we deny the stereotype, there is a conscious or unconscious belief that our breasts equate with being a woman. There are also many other issues that women and their partners may not even know they face.
Regaining intimacy and a positive sense of body image both during and after your breast cancer ordeal is important to overall recovery. Know that help and improvement in these areas is available, although the change may take time. Believe your partner when he expresses his love and desire for you. Learn to touch, hold hands, experiment, be together and simply try to relax. You may re-discover yourself, romance and sex in many fulfilling ways.
Single women also confront concerns about their sexuality when they hope to become part of a relationship. There are worries about how breast cancer will affect dating, about how and when to tell those prospective partners about their condition