"Who would be attracted to this disfigured woman?" asked a mastectomy patient sadly, shortly after having her breast removed due to a malignant tumor.
He is not alone. Much of the literature on the effects of breast surgery has shown that approximately one-third of women go through a difficult period of readjustment to sex and psychology after this operation. He is not alone. Much of the literature on the effects of breast surgery has shown that approximately one-third of women go through a difficult period of readjustment to sex and psychology after this operation. Although surgeons have learned how to protect the breast as much as possible, and sometimes perform breast reconstruction, during or after cancer surgery, some women experience depression that lasts for months. Some other women feel shaken because they realize they are women who are incomplete, no longer feminine, no longer exciting, compared to before the operation. They may feel deformed or damaged or feel very unhappy because their bodies are imperfect and asymmetrical.
The process of self-acceptance over the loss of a breast, is like the grief of losing someone we love: first, loss of self-confidence, then anger, depression, hopelessness and finally (if all goes well) is resignation. Many women are horrified by the prospect of experiencing this -- American women, today have a 1 in 9 chance of developing breast cancer (the most common cancer in women) at some point in their lives. However, at least according to one expert, all of this is exaggerated.
"The fact is that most women adapt satisfactorily to the stress of cancer surgery and the loss of a breast," says Leslie R. Schover Ph, D., staff psychologist at the Center for Sexual Function, Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. "Losing a breast does not mean that you are no longer a woman; in my opinion, it is old-fashioned and overly exaggerated."
What can be learned from the various studies published recently, said Dr. Schover, is the fact that the best predictor of sexual satisfaction after surgery is the psychological health and happy relationship of both partners. Women who are facing problems in their relationship with their partners or who previously had sexual or psychological problems are those who are more likely to experience problems after surgery.
THE PROBLEM: CHEMOTHERAPY
Actually, said Dr. Schover, the most common culprit of sexual problems after breast surgery may not be the loss of the breast itself at all -- but the side effects caused by hormone therapy or chemotherapy (therapy with laser light) which often occurs after surgery.
Approximately 40% of cases of breast cancer are highly responsive to hormones which means that the rate of growth of the cancer is altered by the female hormones namely estrogen and progesterone. Therefore some breast cancer patients have to have their ovaries removed or start taking drugs to improve their hormone levels after surgery to prevent the cancer from spreading. However, in women who have not yet reached menopause, hormone therapy can cause premature and sudden menopause. This unnatural menopause can lead to unpleasant sexual side effects -- such as pain during intercourse or loss of vaginal lubrication and not to mention hot flashes. When the ovaries are removed,
Older women, who have gone through menopause but have never had cancer, can overcome many of these barriers to sexual satisfaction through hormone replacement therapy which among other things improves vaginal tissue softness and moisture.
However, because female hormones can stimulate cancer that may still be languishing somewhere in the body, breast cancer survivors may not get hormone replacement therapy as expected. So they often experience heat in the face and intercourse that is dry and painful. However, there are some medications that don't contain hormones to relieve facial burning and produce vaginal lubrication that can improve dryness.
Chemotherapy (radiation) can also cause damage. "If a woman undergoes irradiation, she will experience hair loss and feel nauseous which has a negative impact on her appearance and self-confidence. In comparison, the loss of a breast may not be much," says Dr. Schover. The irradiation also causes damage to the ovaries which results in premature menopause and similar sexual problems. (Of course we'd better stick to what's important. Those treatments may not be pleasant, but they have saved so many women. And for most people, it's better to live than to die, it doesn't matter if we are lucky enough to be gifted with sex beautiful and unproblematic).
BREAST REFORMING
In recent years, tremendous strides have been made to develop ways of reconstructing the breast after surgery. Breasts that were once considered a prominent part of a woman's pride are now often covered (partly or completely) by medical insurance. Sometimes the breast is reshaped by removing some of the skin on the stomach or back. (Until now silicone implants were sometimes used to plump breasts which were lost at surgery, but the Food and Drug Administration prohibits such implants and is waiting until further research).
Despite all the impressive results, plastic surgery is not perfect. No matter what shape it is in, silicone implants tend to be shaped like a handball which hardens after scar tissue forms around it and is sometimes painful.
Reconstructed breasts also tend to be abnormally firm and less sensitive. (The tiny nerves that provide such a special response to the nipple were damaged during the operation.)
But studies have consistently shown that women who have had a breast (or both) reshaped after a mastectomy are happier with the way they look, especially when naked, compared to women whose breasts were not reconstructed. The reconstruction is sometimes carried out months or even a year or more after the mastectomy. However, several studies have shown that women whose breasts are reconstructed at the same time as cancer surgery are less likely to experience periods of depression, sadness and sexual problems.
SOME WAYS OF INDEPENDENT HELP
If you are facing a mastectomy it is wise to know some of the things you can do to help you get through the event.
See a therapist.
"When a woman has a mastectomy, she should definitely see a sex therapist at least once," says Jude Cotter, Ph.D., a psychologist and sex therapist in private practice in Farminton Hills, Michigan. Dr. Schover agrees, if a woman has a lot of money (high extra costs outside of treatment, usually not covered by insurance), brief sexual counseling after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, will be very helpful.
It would be very helpful if the sexual partner also attended this counseling, said Dr. Schover added. This will help open lines of sexual communication between the two and if any change in sexual technique is required, the male partner should be notified.
In fact, a number of studies have shown that a woman's psychological and sexual recovery after breast cancer surgery will be greatly assisted if her husband or partner participates in the whole process, namely: participates in making treatment decisions, visits the hospital with her partner or wife and gets an early explanation. regarding mastectomy or lumpectomy scars. Men also suffer from this event because they play a role in it. Men tend to prefer one breast in sex play, according to Dr. Cotter explained -- and maybe even men sadly blame themselves if what they did gave rise to a tumor.
It would be very helpful if the sexual partner also attended this counseling, said Dr. Schover added. This will help open lines of sexual communication between the two and if any change in sexual technique is required, the male partner should be notified.
In fact, a number of studies have shown that a woman's psychological and sexual recovery after breast cancer surgery will be greatly assisted if her husband or partner participates in the whole process, namely: participates in making treatment decisions, visits the hospital with her partner or wife and gets an early explanation. regarding mastectomy or lumpectomy scars. Men also suffer from this event because they play a role in it. Men tend to prefer one breast in sex play, according to Dr. Cotter explained -- and maybe even men sadly blame themselves if what they did gave rise to a tumor.
Try to focus on the physical sensations.
Women who depend on nipples to become aroused may need to learn new ways to become aroused after a mastectomy. Sex therapists often suggest sensation focus exercises that can increase the overall erotic sensitivity of the body and will help you find new ways to reach peaks of pleasure.
Get information.
It's a good idea to find out as much information as possible about the operation. If you intend to undergo breast reconstruction after surgery, it is a good idea to decide this beforehand, and inform your medical team about it. In many cases, advance notice can help the plastic surgeon to save your nipple.
Achieve recovery.
Many hospitals participate in the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery Program, which matches volunteers who have had their mastectomies a year earlier with those who have just had them. Talking to other people who have had the same experience is one of the oldest, most reliable and least expensive therapies.
Source: Health Guide
Achieve recovery.
Many hospitals participate in the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery Program, which matches volunteers who have had their mastectomies a year earlier with those who have just had them. Talking to other people who have had the same experience is one of the oldest, most reliable and least expensive therapies.
Source: Health Guide
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