Special Concerns for Younger Survivors
People who are diagnosed with breast cancer when they’re younger than 50 may have different concerns from people who are diagnosed when they’re older, such as fertility. Older people diagnosed with breast cancer may certainly care about body image, sexual function, and an increased risk of other types of cancers. Still, younger people may feel more concerned about those same factors.
Fertility
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have concerns about fertility, especially if having children is important to you. Still, doctors don’t always discuss fertility when explaining a breast cancer diagnosis and its potential treatments. You may have to start the conversation so you can learn about all the fertility preservation options available to you.
It’s also important to talk with your doctor about fertility after you finish your main breast cancer treatment. You may want to ask for a referral to a fertility specialist. Some people find the following questions helpful:
How long should I wait before trying to get pregnant?
Should I use birth control in the meantime? If so, which type?
I’m not having periods yet. When do you think I’ll start menstruating again?
If my ovaries don’t start functioning again, what are my options for having a child?
Body image
Breast cancer treatment involves changes to your appearance that may result in body image issues:
losing one or both breasts
surgery scars
hair loss
weight changes
skin changes and discoloration from radiation therapy
loss of sensation in the breast and nipples
Body image issues can affect anyone regardless of how old they are. But younger people who’ve had breast cancer surgery and other treatments may worry more than older people about how they look afterward.
Exercise can ease treatment-related side effects and reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. But exercise can also help boost your mood and may help you feel better about your body image.
If you think you might have body image issues after treatment, it makes sense to talk with your doctor as you make treatment decisions. You also may want to ask whether your cancer center offers mental health support services. Talking to a psychologist or counselor before, during, and after treatment can help you identify and overcome any body image issues you may develop.
Sexual function
Sexual function issues can come up during and after breast cancer treatment. Certain treatments for breast cancer can bring on early menopause and menopausal symptoms, including:
vaginal dryness
hot flashes
loss of libido
mood swings
weight gain
Some of these menopausal symptoms can affect your interest in sex or make sex feel uncomfortable or painful.
Sexual function issues can be very troubling and affect your quality of life. But it’s important to know there are treatments that can help, including medicines and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture.
Higher risk of other cancers
Certain breast cancer treatments can increase the risk of other types of cancer developing years after people finish breast cancer treatment.
Radiation therapy to the chest area seems to increase the risk of:
lung cancer, especially if you smoke
cancers of the bones and connective tissues, such as blood vessels (called sarcomas)
certain blood cancers, such as leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (a group of cancers that stops immature blood cells from maturing into healthy blood cells)
Chemotherapy may increase the risk of:
leukemia
myelodysplastic syndrome
Tamoxifen may increase the risk of:
uterine cancer
endometrial cancer
— Last updated on December 2, 2022 at 9:26 PM