Pathways to Hope – Can breast cancer patients (or during treatment) have sex?

  In clinical practice, some patients often have difficulty in asking the question of whether they can have sex after breast cancer surgery. Yesterday, another patient’s family told me that the elders in the family often told him that “you can’t touch her anymore”, maybe the elders are well-intentioned and caring, but we need to have a scientific attitude towards this matter.  I. Can breast cancer patients have sex?  A moderate sex life can promote the relationship between husband and wife and improve the immune function of the body, which may be beneficial to the prognosis of breast cancer patients. However, it is not necessary to overindulge in sex, nor is it necessary to forcefully restrain it, but to let nature take its course.  Second, pay attention to the skills during treatment – psychological adjustment of sex life.  However, during the treatment period, especially those who receive chemotherapy, their feelings and attitudes towards sex are not the same as those of ordinary people. There is no standard way to express your need for sex, and partners should learn to share their feelings with each other, and what can bring each other pleasure and satisfaction is the best choice for you.  Cancer and chemotherapy can be physically and psychologically stressful for both the patient and the partner. These stresses can include anxiety about changes in appearance, health, family and financial anxiety, or reduced need for sex due to side effects of treatment such as fatigue and changes in sex hormones.  Sometimes, the partner’s excessive concern or fear can also affect the sexual relationship between them. Through good communication and discussion, many questions and misunderstandings can be clarified and help to improve the relationship between each other.  In short, you can still continue to enjoy intimacy during the treatment period, the actual sexual action in the sex act may be reduced in the proportion of the time, you may want to change the way to hug, snuggle, caress and other ways to achieve the highest point of love.