Sexuality and intimacy after breast cancer diagnosis

iBreast presents

February 15, 2001

Two renowned experts who have worked with hundreds of women on this issue will answer your questions about everything from finding sexy lingerie after a mastectomy, to understanding the effects of early menopause on your libido.

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Ibreast: Welcome, everyone, to ibreast.org's(TM) Third Thursday Night Chat, held in collaboration with Living Beyond Breast Cancer (R).We will only be taking questions that relate to our topic this evening--Sexuality and intimacy after your breast cancer diagnosis--so please hold other questions for future Third Thursday Chats at ibreast.org(TM). If you sign up for free e-mail Updates at www.ibreast.org/res news signup.html, you will receive advance notice of all live events as well as a valuable monthly newsletter. We'd also like to hear your ideas for future chats. Click here www.ibreast.org/contact.php3 to send us an email, or go to www.ibreast.org and click on the Tool Kit at the bottom of most pages, then click Contact. We have two distinguished guests this evening who will share with you the knowledge and tips they've gained from years of helping women--and men--recapture the pleasure of living after breast cancer, overcome the hurdles of miscommunication to find intimacy and love on the other side, and discover creative and playful ways to enjoy fun and companionship. Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those connected with a chronic illness such as cancer. An Associate Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Schover is also the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters. She has written patient education booklets published by the American Cancer Society - "Sexuality and Cancer, For the Woman with Cancer and Her Partner" and "Sexuality and Cancer, For the Man with Cancer and His Partner." She also co-authored the textbook "Sexuality and Chronic Illness, A Comprehensive Approach." Her book "Sexuality and Fertility after Cancer" is a self-help guide for cancer survivors. Dr. Marisa Weiss is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer. She is also widely known as an author ("Living Beyond Breast Cancer," Random House), patient advocate, and founder of both the nonprofit education organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer(R) and the website ibreast.org(TM).

Dr. Weiss: Welcome, everyone. Nothing plays havoc with your intimate life like breast cancer. From the physical and emotional scars of surgery, to the fatigue and nausea of treatment, to the hormonal haywire some drugs play on your system, it often seems as if the whole idea of sex, romance and intimacy should become a thing of the past. But intimacy and, yes, sex, may contribute as much to your recovery as the latest drug therapy. So we're here to talk about how you can recapture the sexual and sensual part of yourself during and after your breast cancer treatment. We'll have more on this topic in our February newsletter, which will be posted at the end of the month at www.ibreast.org/res news arc 2001 2.html. (If you want to know when it's available, sign up for our free email announcements at www.ibreast.org/res news signup.html). Now let's go to questions.

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