Breast cancer can affect how you feel about yourself (self-esteem) and make you feel self-conscious and less confident. These feelings are common; give yourself time to adapt.
If you are finding it hard to adjust to changes, ask for support. Most cancer centres have counsellors who may be able to help.
Breast and chest appearance
It’s normal to experience a range of emotions about the changes to your body. There’s no rush to make a decision but there are several options that can help you feel you are taking back control. You may find having a breast reconstruction or wearing a breast prosthesis improves your confidence. Or you may prefer to “go flat”.
You may be able to keep your nipple and areola or have your nipple surgically reconstructed. You can also have an areola and nipple tattooed onto the breast or you may choose a decorative tattoo to cover scars.
Low libido
Breast cancer and its treatment (particularly hormone treatment) can also reduce your desire for sex (libido).
You may miss the pleasure you felt from the breast or nipple being stroked or kissed during sex. This may be the case even if you have a reconstruction.
If breast stimulation was important for arousal before surgery, you may need to explore other ways of becoming aroused. Some cancer treatment centres have sexual health clinics and other resources that may be able to help.
Vaginal dryness
Some treatments for breast cancer (particularly hormone therapy) can cause vaginal dryness, which can make penetrative sex painful. You can try treatments such as lubricants and non-hormonal vaginal moisturisers. If this doesn’t work, and sex is still painful, talk to your doctor about oestrogen cream.
For more on this, see Sex, intimacy and cancer and listen to our podcast on Sex and Cancer.
The Look Good Feel Better program can help you to manage the appearance-related effects of cancer treatment and boost self-esteem. Call 1800 650 960 or visit lgfb.org.au.
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A/Prof Cindy Mak, Breast Surgeon and Director of Breast Services, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Nick Murray, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital and GenesisCare Adelaide, SA; Caroline Bennett, Consumer; Tamara Casey, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; A/Prof Joe Dusseldorp, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Lauren Lores, Consumer; Dr Linda Madigan, Breast Physician, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Catherine Meredith, Consumer; Ash Mondolo, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Private Hospital, QLD; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Catrina Ross, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW; Prof Christobel Saunders AO, James Stewart Chair of Surgery and Director of Research, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Yvonne Zissiadis, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Director, GenesisCare WA and Adjunct A/Prof, Curtin University, WA.
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