Pink October is a month for raising awareness, fighting and preventing breast cancer. According to INCA (National Cancer Institute), breast cancer in women is the second most common type of disease in women after skin cancer.

You may be surprised when I say “breast cancer in women,” but that’s not redundant, because although the disease mostly affects women, it can also affect men. According to statistics, there is one man for every 100 women. Due to a lack of information and prejudice, most male breast cancer diagnoses are made at an advanced stage.

Various methods can be used to reconstruct the breast after cancer surgery — Photo: Michel Lehman/Pexels

Why is Pink October important? It reminds you of the importance of early diagnosis. As? With the prevention of advanced cases, with the availability of mammography, ultrasound and ultrasound. It is important to remember that breast cancer is both preventable and treatable! And the earlier treatment is started, the smaller the amount of surgical intervention, if necessary, and the less the need for chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

So maintaining a healthy weight for your body type, exercising regularly, knowing your family history, and determining if other relatives have also had the condition can also help with early detection. Make an appointment with a doctor.

In today’s talk, I will focus on breast cancer in women and offer the following reflections: about sexuality, how is a woman diagnosed with breast cancer?

During my clinical visits and through the Sexo sem Dúvida platform, I meet women who, when diagnosed with breast cancer, had a severe impact on their self-esteem, as well as their individual and couple sexuality while in a relationship. The breast is one of the representations of the female body, it is associated with the identity of a woman, with the recognition of her body. Thus, one of the symbols of femininity, sexuality and seduction.

It is known that the diagnosis of cancer culturally entails the proximity of death and the process of mourning, which can contribute to the loss of sexual interest. Caring for (survival) becomes a priority. But you need to talk about life, as well as about sexuality. I remember that sexuality is not synonymous with sex, sexual activity, but with relationships, experiences and intimacy.

Medicines and treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy used to treat cancer can also affect a woman’s sexual response. Side effects such as depression, physical fatigue, pain, and nausea can also contribute to the loss of desire. And, depending on hormone treatment, it can also affect some sexual responses, including suppression of sex drive.

Today, I highlight four important points for women in treatment: self-care, communication, knowledge, and psychotherapy.

It is important to maintain self-care, even if it is minimal. That is: food, sleep, bathing and caress. During difficult times, it is important to maintain good health. And it’s sexy!

Communication through information and medical interventions to help maintain a calmness that is not always present, but necessary for treatment, is of paramount importance. In addition, communication with the partnership is critical. This affective support is also essential in treatment. And it’s sexy!

It is important to know everything that can happen during treatment. For example, a woman needs to know that during treatment, a loss of libido may occur for a while. And this is a temporary side effect that can be dealt with. This already calms and eases the guilt of not wanting.

And it has been scientifically proven that psychotherapeutic monitoring plays a fundamental role in the treatment of breast cancer. However, sexuality follow-up therapy is helpful in this process, as sexual health issues are one of the psychological interventions in cancer treatment.

So, how do you feel about the sexuality of a woman diagnosed with cancer? This woman needs to feel welcome in her pain and fears. The feeling of love intensifies your struggle in healing. It must be remembered that sexuality is not limited to sexual intercourse. It is a relationship of affection, pleasure and companionship. Thus, listening, greeting, caressing and participating in treatment will help a woman regain confidence in herself, in her body and in her sex life.