Breast cancer and sexual issues
Breast cancer treatment can affect a woman’s sex life.
Breast cancer treatment
can sometimes change how a woman looks and feels. But it doesn’t have to cause problems
with intimacy. Research shows that women with early stage breast cancer often have
a satisfying sex life by a year after their surgery.
One of the worries for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer is what will
happen after a surgery that removes part or all of a breast. This can make some
women feel less attractive. Some women opt for reconstructive surgery to make themselves
look and feel better.
The question of whether a partner will still find a woman attractive after surgery
is a common one. But a woman is not the same as her breasts, and a supportive partner
will love her before, during, and after surgery. Often, talking about sexual concerns
can help a couple move beyond them. Talking to a counselor or therapist may also
be helpful.
Physical concerns after surgery.
Sometimes, surgery can interfere with the physical pleasure many women experience
when their breasts or nipples are touched. Talk to a doctor about this issue, and
be patient. Some women find they enjoy being touched around the area of a scar,
even after a full mastectomy.
Others find that their relationship to their chests changes after surgery. They
may no longer enjoy having their remaining breast touched, and couples may need
to adapt. The important thing is for each partner to be supportive of
the other. Talking to a professional therapist may also make a big difference.
Radiation and sexual issues.
Radiation therapy may cause the skin of a woman’s breast to become red and tender.
But the breast and nipple themselves should feel mostly normal. Radiation should
not decrease sex drive or change a woman’s ability to feel pleasure from sex.
If you have concerns about how radiation or any treatment is affecting your sex
life, ask a trusted member of your healthcare team for advice. They may recommend
a therapist who can help specifically with sexual concerns.
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