Having cancer and recovering from it can be very stressful, both physically and emotionally. You may find coping with body image and sexuality issues particularly difficult, and this may affect your emotions and relationships. Choosing a breast prosthesis or having a breast reconstruction may be an important step in your recovery.
There are also other things you can do to help take care of yourself. Eating well, being active and taking time out may help reduce stress, improve wellbeing and help you cope better with surgery if you have a reconstruction. Doing things to improve your self-esteem can also be important for adjusting to a reconstruction.
Talking to health professionals such as psychologists, counsellors or psychiatrists may also be helpful. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a referral. These health professionals may help you find strategies to help with your recovery.
Learn more about:
A/Prof Elisabeth Elder, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Sydney, NSW; Jo Cockwill, Consumer;
Suzanne Elliott, Consumer; Bronwyn Flanagan, Breast Care Nurse, Brightways, Cabrini Hospital, VIC; Maina Gordon, Consumer; Gillian Horton, Owner and Corsetry Specialist, Colleen’s Post-Mastectomy Connection, ACT; Kerry Nash, Sales and Marketing Manager, Amoena Australia, NSW; A/Prof Kerry Sherman, Macquarie University and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW. We are grateful to Amoena Australia Pty Ltd for supplying the breast form images, which appear in this section. The breast reconstruction images have been reproduced with permission from Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing 2010.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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