Debbra felt strongly that care for breast cancer patients needed to include more support for couples.
Transcript
I, never read anything, so maybe there’s a way, maybe there’s a sex therapist that can give some views on how to change the intimacy process when you’re missing parts. Because, that’s what… you feel you’re missing parts. Especially as a double, you don’t have any stimulation on the breasts anymore and you don’t feel a lot depending on how your scars heal and how much scar tissue you have and stuff like that. So it’s even with big ones, they don’t feel the same. That kind of stuff. So something, and I don’t even know whereabouts to go to get that information, because I never thought to look it up. But I think it should be something that is discussed and something that’s brought up sooner rather than later. Because if you can ease into it, then it doesn’t become such an issue later on.
More content
- Alternative and complementary therapies – DebbraCounselling for Debbra is a safe place to speak about some of her worries. She also hopes it will be a 'security blanket' for her son.
- Chemotherapy -DebbraDebbra found another oncologist with the help of a social worker; her experience with chemotherapy improved after that.
- Reconstruction surgery – DebbraThe surgeon would come in, inject Debbra and leave; it was impossible to speak to him.
- Reconstruction surgery – DebbraDebbra describes the variety of prosthetic products.
- Finding and sharing information – DebbraDebbra described some good national resources.
- Relating to health care professionals – DebbraDebbra would show staff the picture of her son to humanize the relationship.
- Relating to health care professionals – DebbraDebbra feels it is possible to disagree with health professionals and communicate that in a polite manner.
- Perspectives on treatment pathways – DebbraDebbra describes moments where she had to fight for care based on her own decisions.
- Testing and diagnosis – DebbraDebbra felt overwhelmed when she was told indirectly that it could be breast cancer.
- First symptoms – DebbraMucinous cancer, such as the kind Debbra was diagnosed with, is rare and difficult to diagnose due to a lack of lump formation.