When you’re diagnosed with cancer, it can feel like your life is over.
But it doesn’t have to be that way!
We know that being diagnosed with cancer is scary, and it’s hard to stay positive when you’re worried about your health and the future. But there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel more in control: exercise, eat well, get enough sleep—and most importantly, talk about how you’re feeling.
According to nationally recognized sex and relationship expert, author, and film creator, Moushumi Ghose, MFT, “any sort of body alteration can impact how we feel about ourselves.”
Scarring or breast malformation after a lumpectomy or mastectomy can “stand as reminders of the illness and that alone can impact how we feel about ourselves. Add in the way that breasts are viewed in our society as a sign of sexual prowess or sexuality, and this can have ramifications on arousal, body perception, and ultimately sexuality.”
Mou says it’s important to remember that every person is different when it comes to how they respond to their cancer experience—and that no matter what they’ve been through, they deserve access to healthcare providers who will treat them with respect and compassion.
Talking about your experience can help you feel less alone and more connected to others going through similar experiences. It also allows you to learn from others’ stories so that you can make informed decisions about your healthcare options.
If you are looking to learn more about cancer, sexual health, and intimacy this blog is for you. Click the link below!
Caitlin Oates
Author
Doubling as LAST’s practice manager and intake coordinator, Caitlin is a writer and creative with a passion for sex-positivity, LGBTQIA advocacy, and mental health care.
Caitlin earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Northwestern University, and now flexes those communication muscles by teaching medical students humanism skills, coaching athletes in functional fitness, and learning from and working with LAST to promote, amplify, and normalize the importance of sexual and mental health.