Cancer weeds out the Men from the boys

Just read your post and made me cry!! I'm not going through any of that and havent even begun treatment... but my god... doesnt it take something like this to really open your eyes and see people and things for what they really are!!

Bless you and sending a big, happy hug through this computer especially for you xxx  

Just read your post and made me cry!! I'm not going through any of that and havent even begun treatment... but my god... doesnt it take something like this to really open your eyes and see people and things for what they really are!!

Bless you and sending a big, happy hug through this computer especially for you xxx  

Hi happylittlevegimite,

Sorry to hear that you had such a tough time in your relationship, but glad to hear that you are rediscovering yourself :)

I wanted to let you know that BCNA has developed a booklet called breast cancer and sexual wellbeing, that discusses a variety of topics, including vaginal dryness and a number of products that you can try to help you manage it.

You can download a copy of the booklet from our website, or place an order here and we'll send you a free copy in the mail.

If you're interested, BCNA also comissioned some research which investigated the sexual wellbeing experiences of women with breast cancer and health professionals. Not surprisingly we found that even though 89% of health professionals considered sexual wellbeing (including talking about stuff like vaginal dryness) to be a very important issue for women with breast cancer, only 33% of those who answered the survey said they always address this issue with women. You can read more here.

Feel free to order a few copies for your health professionals and hand it to them, which might help them to get the coversation started.

All the best,

Annie

Hi happylittlevegimite,

Sorry to hear that you had such a tough time in your relationship, but glad to hear that you are rediscovering yourself :)

I wanted to let you know that BCNA has developed a booklet called breast cancer and sexual wellbeing, that discusses a variety of topics, including vaginal dryness and a number of products that you can try to help you manage it.

You can download a copy of the booklet from our website, or place an order here and we'll send you a free copy in the mail.

If you're interested, BCNA also comissioned some research which investigated the sexual wellbeing experiences of women with breast cancer and health professionals. Not surprisingly we found that even though 89% of health professionals considered sexual wellbeing (including talking about stuff like vaginal dryness) to be a very important issue for women with breast cancer, only 33% of those who answered the survey said they always address this issue with women. You can read more here.

Feel free to order a few copies for your health professionals and hand it to them, which might help them to get the coversation started.

All the best,

Annie

Hi happylittlevegimite,

Sorry to hear that you had such a tough time in your relationship, but glad to hear that you are rediscovering yourself :)

I wanted to let you know that BCNA has developed a booklet called breast cancer and sexual wellbeing, that discusses a variety of topics, including vaginal dryness and a number of products that you can try to help you manage it.

You can download a copy of the booklet from our website, or place an order here and we'll send you a free copy in the mail.

If you're interested, BCNA also comissioned some research which investigated the sexual wellbeing experiences of women with breast cancer and health professionals. Not surprisingly we found that even though 89% of health professionals considered sexual wellbeing (including talking about stuff like vaginal dryness) to be a very important issue for women with breast cancer, only 33% of those who answered the survey said they always address this issue with women. You can read more here.

Feel free to order a few copies for your health professionals and hand it to them, which might help them to get the coversation started.

All the best,

Annie

Hi there

 

I posted a lengthy reply earlier but now I see it seems to have disappeared into cyber space or I must have pushed the wrong thing lol x

I shall try again - so sorry to hear of your extra challenges - bc is challenge enough but based on what you have said - I am sure you will be thankful that you found this out before you were married. Good on you for finding you again !!! Goodness after this road - I think some all about me time is in order!!

I had mentioned the booklet but I see Annie has posted the link - even better.

I dont know if you have tried Replens - you can just buy it from the chemist - it is an internal vaginal moisturiser which they recommend you use every 3 days! I found it works pretty well. The other thing you can use is Astroglide - it is more of a lubricant but also helps . You can use these products together !! 

There isnt really much discussion about this but I was chatting to a Mc Grath breast nurse about it  and it seems more info is becoming available. There was also another cream I heard of but I cant remember the name - will try and find out again.

Breast cancer is the pits for all the attacks on feminity, missing boobs, no hair, body changes etc - but with a positive outlook and a few adjustments She is back hehe !!!

I hope that this helps a bit - definitely worth a try - I am not sure whether you are oestrogen + , there are some creams that have oestrogen component in it but are not recommended if the tumor was ER +.

Well lets hope I get this right and it comes through this time!!!

Everything of the best - and hope you continue to go from strength to strength. There is a lot of life to be living !!!!!! xxxxx

Debsx

Hi there

 

I posted a lengthy reply earlier but now I see it seems to have disappeared into cyber space or I must have pushed the wrong thing lol x

I shall try again - so sorry to hear of your extra challenges - bc is challenge enough but based on what you have said - I am sure you will be thankful that you found this out before you were married. Good on you for finding you again !!! Goodness after this road - I think some all about me time is in order!!

I had mentioned the booklet but I see Annie has posted the link - even better.

I dont know if you have tried Replens - you can just buy it from the chemist - it is an internal vaginal moisturiser which they recommend you use every 3 days! I found it works pretty well. The other thing you can use is Astroglide - it is more of a lubricant but also helps . You can use these products together !! 

There isnt really much discussion about this but I was chatting to a Mc Grath breast nurse about it  and it seems more info is becoming available. There was also another cream I heard of but I cant remember the name - will try and find out again.

Breast cancer is the pits for all the attacks on feminity, missing boobs, no hair, body changes etc - but with a positive outlook and a few adjustments She is back hehe !!!

I hope that this helps a bit - definitely worth a try - I am not sure whether you are oestrogen + , there are some creams that have oestrogen component in it but are not recommended if the tumor was ER +.

Well lets hope I get this right and it comes through this time!!!

Everything of the best - and hope you continue to go from strength to strength. There is a lot of life to be living !!!!!! xxxxx

Debsx

I am so glad you weeded your garden - so now you can have beauty, love and peace in your life.

Tough way to do it, out of every adversity comes the equal or greater seed for opportunity. Seems your adversity was most harsh, now its time to shine.

All the very best,

Maria333

 

Thank you so much lanilumps71!! That is so sweet of you :-) You sound like a beautiful person.

Yes these experiences do take a bit out of you but also puts things into perspective. I think you get to learn more about yourself than anything else. As for the ones your with, true colours shine through eventually, its what you do with it that counts.

Thank you for your lovely message. It brightened my day!! Big hugs to you back. Everyone on this site is phenominal and I'm so glad it exists! 

From strength to strength xx

Hi Annie,

Yes I received the booklet a while back, it was very informative. I tried quite a few things it recomended and unfortonantly they didnt work. Replens especially blocked me up and I was excreting some nasty things for months after I stopped. It was pretty aweful really. There is Sylk lube that disintergrates within seconds and even tried Olive oil...ha ha that was funny...just made me crave a souvlaki lol...gotta laugh. It possibly also has to do with my parnter at the time and phycological impact this entire experience has had. I'm on monthly Zoladex implants so dryness is a side effect also.

I've recently spoken to a Gynocologist, (waited 3 months to see her), who burst into tears when she was asking my history. Turns out she had breast cancer and was diagnosed the same day as I was! Such a small world. The poor woman was having a bad day, she could barely utter a sentence, let alone recomend anything. Might have been a better thing to not have gone into work that day. Anyway managed to get an overdue papsmere out of the way and I walked away a bit diflated. Back to square one.

Thank you for your msg. This is why I'm putting it out here because I know other women are suffering from it, no one likes to talk about it...but the truth is, it exists, its frustrating its another hurdle we need to overcome and takes the spontinuity out of the bedroom. Surely there is a product that is hormone free and works with out wrecking the moment...he he.

HLV over & out :-)