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What Are The Symptoms Associated With Treatment During Breast Cancer?
ok doc,my girlfriend is just recovering from breast cancer,she a lymph node removed from under arm and a small cancerous cell from her breast also having chemo and radium treatment.at the time due to work and my looking after my son some weeks i could not be there every minute for but i did my best and worried like mad!she thinks her mum and friend where there for her more,yes did alot and went hospital appointments a lot.now she is on zoladex and tamoxifen and has been on these drugs for 6 months?at first i did not believe what she said about the side effects and induced hormonal changes but i do now after reading on web about them.we have had are really hard time for last 3 months as yes prior i want to make love to her and she just went through motions and stopped in november!she feels ive pushed her into a corner maybe i think have now with my ignorant attiude prior,and says she hasn't got the feelings for me back yet and and says to me will she?i am and know my attiude got to change and will as i love her foremost and i dont want to lose her because of cancer and this!at the moment with decided to have a break for a few weeks obviosuly i fear the outcome but she doesnt want me seeing anyone else as she has said.i wouldnt!but she seems ok in the company of her family and friends and is inclined to socialise with them on occasions but me,i seem to be alienated.but she was ok on certain occasions over xmas?but i felt she was cold to me?what advice please could you give me?i'll do whatever to make it ok ,i did feel she was using drug side effects as an excuse?i dont know anything anymore!?my doc reckons i am stressed out at moment with it and i should lie low as i dont live with her at moment and give her space?if you could help i would be very grateful thanks mike.
Mon, 30 Apr 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Cancer is a difficult diagnosis to face both for the patient and their family. For females, the cancer of breast has also connotations on their attractiveness as a female to their partner. It hurts the feminine side of their nature.
Bear in mind that in general, any illness impairs the sexual drive. Cancer as a disease and its treatment can affect the normal functioning of the body. The drugs, especially if she is on drugs that affect female hormone levels and function, can impair their libido or desire for sex and cause dryness in the vagina.
In balance, I would say that this could be managed with sensitive communication and dialogue with your wife. If you feeling offended at being alienated with her in relation to her family and friends, then say so. Keeping to yourself would increase the lack of communication and leave room for misunderstanding. You are facing a difficult time in the career role too. It is important that your wife and her family recognize that. And, then only you can together find solutions to resolve the matters that affect both of you in an adverse way.
Sexual intercourse is an important aspect of intimate relationships. My advice would be to discuss with your doctor and arrange for psychosexual counseling. There are ways in which the impact of medications can be dealt with. Importantly, both of you would need to accommodate that the sexual life while the illness and the treatment are ongoing, will not be the same and as active as in a state of good health. However, with patience and support, once the recovery is complete, then you can look forward to an active and fulfilling life which would be enriched by the experience of having faced a life crisis together.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Sabina Hussain
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Cancer is a difficult diagnosis to face both for the patient and their family. For females, the cancer of breast has also connotations on their attractiveness as a female to their partner. It hurts the feminine side of their nature.
Bear in mind that in general, any illness impairs the sexual drive. Cancer as a disease and its treatment can affect the normal functioning of the body. The drugs, especially if she is on drugs that affect female hormone levels and function, can impair their libido or desire for sex and cause dryness in the vagina.
In balance, I would say that this could be managed with sensitive communication and dialogue with your wife. If you feeling offended at being alienated with her in relation to her family and friends, then say so. Keeping to yourself would increase the lack of communication and leave room for misunderstanding. You are facing a difficult time in the career role too. It is important that your wife and her family recognize that. And, then only you can together find solutions to resolve the matters that affect both of you in an adverse way.
Sexual intercourse is an important aspect of intimate relationships. My advice would be to discuss with your doctor and arrange for psychosexual counseling. There are ways in which the impact of medications can be dealt with. Importantly, both of you would need to accommodate that the sexual life while the illness and the treatment are ongoing, will not be the same and as active as in a state of good health. However, with patience and support, once the recovery is complete, then you can look forward to an active and fulfilling life which would be enriched by the experience of having faced a life crisis together.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Sabina Hussain
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