But breast cancer treatments can influence sexuality in more specific ways. The loss or alteration of a breast through mastectomy or lumpectomy affects every woman differently. In American culture, female breasts have long been erotic symbols. The meaning a woman attributes to her breast and the loss or alteration of it can affect her self-esteem and image of herself as a sexual person. The role of your breasts in sexual activity may change.
Some women become self-conscious around their partners, others find the changes less significant.
It is crucial for each woman to understand her own feelings, how they impact her sexuality and how important breast reconstruction or prosthesis is to her. For more information on breast reconstruction from Black Healthnet , click here . For a more detailed discussion of breast conserving therapy, click here . Of all treatments, chemotherapy probably has the most drastic effects on sexuality for a woman with breast cancer. Chemotherapy can cause medical menopause, meaning loss of ovarian androgen, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and infertility.