Looking for answers
Firstly thank you so much for the welcome to the group, it's great to know that there is a forum to discuss these issues which seem to affect quite a few of us.
Although I am coming up to the 3rd anniversary of my diagnosis, I am only now starting to try and come to terms with the changes cancer has had on my sexual health and wellbeing and my relationship with my husband. I had about 18 months of active treatment including; a lumpectomy, a subsequent mastectomy (when clear margins could not be achieved), chemotherapy, radiation and Herceptin. I'm currently on Tamoxifen, but my oncologist is keen to move me on to Arimidex when I see her in late February. I also spent much of last year going through a DIEP flap reconstruction, revisions and a nipple reconstruction.
After chemo I crashed headlong into menopause with the accompanying problem of painful sex due to atrophy and loss of desire (amongst a raft of other side-effects). So much of the last few years seems to have consisted of just trying to put one foot in front of the next and I'm afraid the whole question of sexual intimacy and wellbeing was often put into the too hard basket. I realise that this has not been fair on our relationship, so I'm trying to lose the embarrassment and seek out support and (hopefully) answers so that we can get back on track. My GP has been helpful and at his recommendation am seeing a specialist women's health physio in February to see if a combination of exercises/stretching and the moisturisers / lubricants will have the desired effects :-) Will let you know how I get on. Jane
