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How to get back to "old" self?

Page last modified on: August 20, 2008
Question from Maggie P: How do I get back to my 'old' self? Nothing seems the same anymore.
Answers —Patricia Ganz, M.D.: Many things do change after breast cancer, and sometimes they include an increase in symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, sweats, and vaginal dryness. If you are having these problems, talk to your doctor about some strategies to manage these symptoms.

However, it takes some time for recovery. Most of the research that has been done suggests that by a year or so after diagnosis and initial treatment, women have resumed normal levels of activity and function.

One of the problems that women experience is that while they are recovering, they are also getting older, and some of the symptoms they experience might be related to aging rather than the cancer treatment.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Recovery can involve a lot of ups and downs. Try not to get too discouraged when you go through a series of bad or not-so-good days. The goal is to keep heading in the right direction. We know it is hard to be patient, because there are so many things that you would like to be doing. You probably won't return back to the same 'normal' that you had before, but what you need to shoot for is to arrive at a new 'normal'. What that is going to look like, and how long it will take to get there, depends a lot on who you are and what matters most to you.

On Wednesday, October 17, 2001, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Quality of Life. Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.,Marisa Weiss, M.D., answered your questions about how breast cancer can affect physical, emotional, social, and sexual aspects of your life.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.Patricia A. Ganz, M.D. is a medical oncologist and a professor in the schools of medicine and public health at UCLA, and is director of the division of cancer prevention and control research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center there.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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