Breast surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy often have a significant effect on how women feel about themselves and their attractiveness. This can happen to any woman, whether or not she has a partner.
The sexual difficulties that are possible as a result of treatment include:
- Feeling less attractive because of breast surgery and radiotherapy
- Breast tenderness after breast surgery and radiotherapy
- Lower libido, due to feeling unwell, tired or worried, or from chemotherapy treatment
- Vaginal dryness, due to hormonal therapies (such as tamoxifen and ovarian treatments) and chemotherapy treatment.
The following suggestions might help you deal with sexual difficulties you may encounter:
- Even if it’s difficult, try to communicate with your partner about each other’s fears and needs – ways can be found to adapt to your situation and help you feel closer to one another
- Use a water-based lubricant for vaginal dryness. Other vaginal moisturisers and creams, some with estrogen in them, are also available. Talk to your doctor if you’d like to find out more about the risks and benefits of vaginal moisturisers and cream
- It’s very common for women to have sexual concerns after treatment for breast cancer – if you have concerns, try to discuss these with your doctor, nurse or other health care professional
- Some partners have sexual concerns after the woman they love has had treatment for breast cancer – your partner might like to talk about these concerns with a doctor, nurse or other health care professional
- You and/or your partner could ask for advice, either together or separately, from a trained specialist – specialists include relationship counsellors, sex therapists, other counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists
- If your doctor is unable to help you arrange a referral to a specialist, The Cancer Council's Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20 can provide information about specialists.
For lesbian women:
You may feel that a lot of attention is placed on heterosexual couples, and that lesbian sexuality isn’t mentioned when the effect of the diagnosis on sexuality is discussed. Some partners feel excluded, or even discriminated against.
It’s your choice whether you disclose your sexuality to your treatment team. However, if you feel comfortable with your treatment team, telling them could help you feel more supported.
It’s important that your needs are met and that you feel comfortable with your treatment team. You might decide that you’d feel more comfortable with a different doctor or health care professional.
