About Breast Cancer: Young Women's Concerns

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Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Daily Life From Pam Stephan, your Guide to Breast Cancer When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was 46. I still felt young, and I wasn't ready to be drop-kicked into menopause. My oncologist told me that I would become infertile, lose my hair, and feel pretty tired after chemo treatments. The good news was that my risk of recurrence would be very low! But I needed to know how to handle many other life changes - which is what this week's newsletter is all about. Relationships: Friends and Partners A diagnosis of breast cancer is hard on most relationships. If you have a partner, it can affect your sex life, and if you're single it can make things very tricky. If you have a partner, it's important to be able to give and accept support. Even relationships with friends and coworkers may change in unexpected ways. Treatments May Challenge Sex and Fertility Estrogen affects important facets of your life: breast and reproductive health, sexual function, and bone density. It may also feed a tumor; so many treatments for breast cancer help lower hormone levels. When estrogen is low, you may have premature or medical menopause. Premenopausal women who want to preserve their fertility, should discuss this with their doctor - before treatment begins. Talking to Your Kids About Breast Cancer It's difficult to tell kids about any cancer or life-threatening disease. Some of us may feel afraid to tell our kids about a diagnosis of breast cancer, but it's best to be honest. Here's some tips to keep the conversation age appropriate. If your kids need help expressing their emotions, try this great book written for young children. How Will Breast Cancer Change My Life? Knowing what to expect before you go into treatment for breast cancer helps you feel in control of your life. Your treatments will have an impact on your body, but also on your budget, your schedule, your job, family life, and your relationships. Here are some ways breast cancer can change your life. Take A Poll: Your Most Dreaded Effect of Treatment Breast Cancer Ads Breast Cancer Month Young Fertility Treatment Menopause Treatment Young Child Photo Featured Articles Risk and Prevention Newly Diagnosed - What You Need to Know Before Starting Treatment Is It Breast Cancer? - Diagnosis, Tests, Results Treatment Options for Breast Cancer Support and Resources - During and After Treatment Life During Treatment - Self Care, Side Effects, Reconstruction   More from About.com Is it a Cold or the Flu? Knowing whether you have a cold or the flu can help you treat your symptoms more effectively. More > Concerned About Your Drinking? This short quiz can help you identify whether or not you have a drinking problem. Take the quiz now > This newsletter is written by: Pam Stephan Breast Cancer Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Breast Cancer newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Reader to Reader Your Life After Breast Cancer How Did You Tell Your Kids About Your Breast Cancer? Tell Your Tumor How You Feel About It Advertisement