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03-27-2011, 01:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Loss of sensuality
The majority of breast cancer patients are over age 50. Most will experience a loss of libido if they do chemotherapy. Medical providers tend to avoid discussing this issue at the time when patients are considering their options. It may help to have some idea how chemotherapy-induced menopause or gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist-induced menopause, affects breast cancer patients over time, in comparison to breast cancer patients who chose hormonal therapy but no chemotherapy.
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern...tegoryId=40137
FYI, here is the poll of the patients on this website in regard to this topic:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...ghlight=libido
__________________
Dx 2002 age 51
bc for granny, aunt, cousin, sister, mother.
ER+/PR+/HER2+++, grade 3
IDC 1.9 cm, some DCIS, Stage 1, Grade 3
Lumpectomy, CAFx6 (no blood boosters), IMRT rads, 1 3/4 yr tamoxifen
Rads necrosis
BRCA 1 & 2 negative
Trials: Early detection OVCA; 2004 low-dose testosterone for bc survivors
Diet: Primarily vegetarian organic; metformin (no diabetes), vitamin D3
Exercise: 7 days a week, 1 hr/day
No trastuzumab, no taxane, no AI
NED
Last edited by AlaskaAngel; 03-27-2011 at 01:53 PM..
Reason: to clearly indicate effects of both chemo and GnRH induced menopause, in comparison to just endocrine therapy
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03-27-2011, 06:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 600
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Re: Loss of sensuality
Prior to receiving chemo, I had a wonderful physical relationship with my new husband. I feel a strong sense of loss. I wasn't sure if it was due to getting older and menopause or what, but I have never had a doctor discuss the issue of chemo and sensuality with me. I even wondered how much of it has to do with the mastectomy and my image of my body. I have tried to discuss it but it almost seems that they are not comfortable about it. I sometimes wonder if part of that is discomfort with older women being sexually active. That it should not be important to us. I would have still chosen to have chemo (I am glad to still be here) but it is yet one more thing lost to cancer.
__________________
In the world of destiny, there are no statistics.
Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump
Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes
ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3
February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy.
March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle
May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy
June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy,
June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative
August 7th - Brain MRI-negative
August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative
January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07
July 2008-Finished Herceptin!
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03-28-2011, 10:43 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
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Re: Loss of sensuality
The 'sensuality' went into 'chemopause' in 2003 after several rounds of FEC. The 6 rounds of TCH and 4 weekly Herceptin in 2007 further put me in the 'dry' spell and I bought 'Replens' per Marianne's advice. I used it very 'infrequently' and had received complaints from my 'other half' quite often.
Well, spring is here again. And I somehow began to feel some 'awakening' feelings. Perhaps the 'dilator' helped stretch and revive the inner lining? Or is it the result of eating nutritious breakfast oatmeal mixed with milk, yogurt, flaxseeds, walnuts, raisins, blue berries, and other fresh fruits?
Perhaps it is caused by the growing brain tumor that's pressing on my nose? The increased cranial pressure probably has 'stimulated' lots of the stuff located in the center of my brain... Maybe I will become 'smart' again... 
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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