Corel Medical Series: Cancer/Corel Medical Series: Cancer.iso/mac/Program/p23.dxr/00039_Field_SRC.p23.C.15.txt

Text File | 1997-02-04 | 2KB | 18 lines

• Be aware that your partner may not know what to say. Your spouse or lover may not know how or when to
  bring up the topic of sexuality and so wait for you to do it. Your partner may be afraid of hurting or
  embarrassing you and want to protect your feelings. Sometimes this "protection" may feel like rejection.
  Although you might feel that it's risky to break the ice and approach the topic yourself, most people feel
  relieved once they've done it.
• You both may also worry about pain. If your incision or muscles are tender, minimize the pressure on your
  chest area. If you lie on your unaffected side, you can have more control over your movements and reduce any
  irritation to the incision. If your partner is on top, you may protect the affected area by putting your hand
  under your chin and your arm against your chest.
• If you feel any pain, stop. And let your partner know why you are stopping. If he knows that you'll tell him
  what is painful, he will feel more relaxed and will be less inhibited in exploring and experimenting with you.
  Taking a rest or changing position may help you relax, and relaxing will usually decrease any pain. You can
  also apply extra lubrication. With communication and cooperation, you can work together to find positions
  and activities that give you the most pleasure.
• Experimentation and time seem to be the keys to finding satisfactory ways of adapting to the loss of such a
  symbolically important part of the body as the breast. Talking with other women who have had mastectomies
  women from the Canadian Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, for example—can provide support
  and encouragement as well as suggestions about clothes and prostheses.