There are almost 200,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the United States every year. Virtually all of the women who undergo treatment are plagued by questions of intimacy, sexuality, and personal and professional relationships. 100 Questions & Answers About Breast Cancer Sensuality, Sexuality and Intimacy provides authoritative answers to the most common questions asked by women and their partners when coping with intimacy after the trauma of breast cancer. Written by renowned female sexuality and breast cancer physicians, this book offers encouragement and reassurance to those struggling to strengthen and rebuild relationships during and after breast cancer treatment. It is an invaluable guide for anyone dealing with the physical and emotional repercussions of this disease.
Author(s): Michael Krychman, Susan Kellogg, Sandra Finestone
Series: 100 Questions & Answers
Edition: 1
Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 212
Cover Page......Page 1
About the Authors......Page 2
Title Page......Page 11
ISBN 9780763779092......Page 12
Acknowledgments & Dedication......Page 13
Contents......Page 15
Introduction......Page 17
Part One: The Basics......Page 19
1. What is sexual health and vitality?......Page 20
3. What aspects of sexual response (e.g., desire, arousal, orgasm, and sexual comfort) might change after breast cancer treatment?......Page 21
4. From a sexual health perspective, which couples adjust well and which do not after breast cancer and why?......Page 23
5. Do most breast cancer survivors need help in dealing with sexual changes after breast cancer?......Page 24
6. What type of healthcare professional is trained to help women with these issues?......Page 25
7. What is sexual medicine?......Page 26
8. What is survivorship medicine?......Page 27
9. What information does my healthcare providers need to know to assist me with my sexual health?......Page 29
10. Should I discuss sexual health issues with my oncologist(s), or should I wait until they are brought up with me?......Page 30
Part Two: Treatments......Page 33
12. What is oncoplastic surgery?......Page 34
13. Should I have reconstruction? Will it help with my sexual self-esteem?......Page 35
14. My breasts are not even? Help!......Page 36
16. Why are surgeons advising me to remove my other breast?......Page 37
17. What is a risk-reducing oophorectomy, and will it affect my sex life?......Page 38
18. My scars are large, red, and ugly. What can I do?......Page 39
19. My scars are erotic. Am I normal?......Page 40
20. My husband hasn’t made any effort to see me naked since the surgery? Why?......Page 41
22. What if I’m too fatigued from my treatment to think about sex?......Page 42
24. Will radiation in the nipple area decrease sensation and arousal?......Page 44
26. What are the side effects of chemotherapy?......Page 46
27. How can I overcome my pain?......Page 47
28. What is menopause, and what can I expect? My vagina and vulva hurt and burn. What can I do?......Page 51
29. My appearance has changed. I don’t even look or feel like myself. What is the Look Good…Feel Better Program? How can I deal with my new body image?......Page 58
30. What can I do since I have lost all my hair?......Page 61
31. How can I manage my terrible hot flashes?......Page 63
32. What other techniques can I implement to help with my hot flashes?......Page 66
33. What prescription medications are helpful for hot flash management?......Page 69
34. I can’t even remember what sex used to be like. Cancer has affected my mind and memory. Please help......Page 70
35. I am too tired for sex. How can I decrease fatigue?......Page 75
36. I am too stressed for sex. How can I manage my stress better?......Page 81
37. How do Tamoxifen (Astra Zeneca) and aromatase inhibitors affect sexual function?......Page 84
38. My depression medication is hurting my sex drive. I feel sad and am crying a lot. How can I get a handle on my depression?......Page 85
39. What about pain medications? Do they affect sexual function?......Page 86
40. How can I control pain and still have sex?......Page 88
41. What are bioidentical hormones? Are they safe?......Page 90
42. My range of motion has been affected by lymphedema. What can I do?......Page 92
43. What about breast cancer sexuality for the single woman or parent?......Page 93
44. What about women in same-sex relationships?......Page 95
Part Three: Psychosocial Issues......Page 97
45. What are common psychosexual problems that couples experience?......Page 98
46. What is sexual self-esteem?......Page 99
47. What body image issues might a woman with breast cancer experience?......Page 100
48. What are sensuality, intimacy, and love?......Page 101
49. What is loss of sexual interest in intimacy or sex?......Page 102
51. What is marital counseling?......Page 103
52. What is individual counseling?......Page 105
53. What are some counseling techniques?......Page 106
Part Four: Sexuality and Sexual Function After Breast Cancer......Page 109
55. What is the difference between sexual performance and sexual pleasure?......Page 110
56. How does aging affect sexual desire?......Page 112
57. What changes in family dynamics can occur with breast cancer?......Page 113
58. How does a sexual healthcare provider assess sexual functioning?......Page 114
59. Do many cancer survivors experience sexual complaints?......Page 115
60. What specific sexual health management therapies can I expect?......Page 116
61. What are structured sexual exercises and behavioral modification?......Page 118
62. What is sensate focus?......Page 121
63. Is it normal to feel uneasy about reading erotic literature?......Page 123
64. What pharmacologic interventions can improve sexual function?......Page 124
65. What are the common estrogen creams?......Page 125
66. What are vaginal estradiol tablets and vaginal rings?......Page 127
67. What is testosterone replacement, and how is it linked with women’s sexuality?......Page 128
68. How can phosphodiesterase inhibitors be helpful to women? I thought they were only for men......Page 130
69. What is Alprostadil cream?......Page 131
70. What is Apomorphine?......Page 132
71. How can the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) be helpful to my sexual health?......Page 133
72. What is Flibanserin?......Page 134
73. What is Tibolone?......Page 136
74. What is Bremelanotide?......Page 137
75. What nonhormonal and nonmedication regimes can I use for sexual function?......Page 138
76. What are some common sexual devices or accessories?......Page 140
77. What are some common sexual devices that I can use?......Page 142
78. Can alternative and complementary medicine improve my sex life?......Page 145
79. Do diet or nutrition improve sexual function?......Page 147
80. What is Zestra Essential Arousal Oil?......Page 149
81. Can acupuncture increase libido?......Page 150
82. Can exercise improve sexual function?......Page 152
83. What is mindfulness training?......Page 153
Part Five: Reestablishing and Strengthening Your Sexual Relationship......Page 157
85. What if I am having trouble re-establishing a sexual relationship with my partner after treatment is over?......Page 158
86. What “self-help” techniques allow women get their desire back?......Page 159
87. How do I know when it’s time to consult a professional?......Page 161
88. What is sex therapy?......Page 162
89. How do I communicate to my partner about what has changed in my body?......Page 163
90. What can I do to make sex more comfortable?......Page 164
91. How does novelty affect sex drive and responsiveness?......Page 165
92. How can it be possible to change brain chemicals with simple behaviors?......Page 167
94. What other brain chemicals are important for our sex life? What activities increase those?......Page 169
95. Why do we seem to have more sexual energy and excitement when we are on vacation?......Page 170
96. How can we replicate these vacation feelings at home?......Page 171
97. What are “His and Hers” intimacy weekends?......Page 172
98. What is fantasy play?......Page 173
99. What specific books can “spice things up”?......Page 174
100. What specific resources can help us address sexual concerns and spice things up?......Page 176
Appendix: Resources......Page 177
Glossary......Page 187
Index......Page 195
Other books in the 100 Questions & Answers Series......Page 210
Back Page......Page 212
