Managing The Emotional Impact Of A Mastectomy

Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, either partially or completely, and is usually carried out to treat breast cancer. Surgical breakthroughs over the past two decades have given women more options than ever before, and there are now less invasive breast-conserving treatments available to many women. The one consistent factor, however, is the emotional impact of undergoing a mastectomy.

Discussing Intimacy With Your Partner

A mastectomy does not physically decrease a woman's sexual desire, nor does it decrease her ability to have vaginal lubrication or normal genital feelings, or to reach orgasm. However, it can make both partners naturally concerned about how to express their love physically and emotionally after treatment. Women specifically may feel as if they are not as 'feminine' anymore and can feel quite self-conscious.

Communication is crucial in maintaining a robust and healthy sex life after breast cancer and a mastectomy. The change will affect each partner in different ways and sharing concerns and fears will help. It's important to work together to navigate the new reality.

Considering Reconstruction

Life after a mastectomy is a new chapter for a breast cancer survivor, and like all new things, there will be an adjustment period. It’s good to keep in mind most women feel satisfaction and relief knowing they have taken control of their cancer risk after surgery. Of course, however, there can be feelings of insecurity about one's physical appearance, One option for physical repair after a mastectomy is breast reconstruction. Such a decision is purely based on the individual preferences of the patient who underwent the mastectomy.

Breast reconstruction can involve reshaping both breasts to look a certain way, even if cancer did not affect both of them. It can help restore the look and feel of the breast after a mastectomy while also helping women feel more comfortable about how they look. Although it is possible a reconstructed breast may never match the look or feel of a natural breast, this area of plastic surgery continues to improve.