Breast caressing different after lumpectomy?
Meet the Experts
Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Michelle: Ever since my lumpectomy, I feel like my husband is performing a breast exam during sex. He insists that he's not, and that it's me. It's just different now. Is it me? Do you have any advice for me?
- Answer —Leslie Schover, Ph.D.: It could be that he is touching you differently out of a fear of hurting you. Men often worry that they will be too rough and hurt their partners or wives after breast surgery. It may also be that you have become very sensitive about breast caressing. It may help if you try to have a sexual image in your mind while your husband is touching your breast. Maybe you can recapture some of the good feelings that you had about breast caressing in the past.
On Wednesday, February 21, 2001, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Intimacy and Sexuality. Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about how breast cancer diagnosis and treatment affect your sex 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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