I've watched the breast cancer struggle of a close friend over the past few years. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s. She fought the toughest fight I've ever watched and she beat that cancer into the ground with a smile on her face and a hop in her step. Now, she has to face the threat of her cancer recurring because she has not passed into menopause. Typically, breast cancer survivors are encouraged to undergo a complete hysterectomy to reduce the risk of relapse or new cancer, but my friend has chosen to keep her womanhood intact. I often wonder, as a woman in her early 30s and in menopause, if there is a fear associated with menopause that stops some breast cancer survivors from having a hysterectomy. Menopause is easy compared to fighting cancer, so here are seven reasons breast cancer survivors shouldn't be afraid of menopause.
Hot flashes don't last forever. I've been in menopause for about five years and I have very few hot flashes. For the first few years I suffered late night hot flashes nearly every night, but they fade.
There are alternatives to estrogen therapy. Estrogen therapy is not an option for breast cancer survivors, but other treatments are available. Doctors can prescribe antidepressants, blood pressure medications and seizure medications to treat hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.
You'll still want to have sex. Many women worry that they'll lose their sex drive after menopause. Nope, I can attest to the fact that you still want to take a trip between the sheets, but sometimes it takes a little more coercion to feel as hot as you did before menopause.
You can still have an orgasm. This was the myth I was worried about when my doctor told me he would be removing my cervix. During an orgasm the cervix moves up and down and I thought this had something to do with the feeling of an orgasm. I was quickly convinced that your cervix is not needed to have an orgasm and I learned for myself in the months following menopause.
Vaginal dryness is painful. Yes, vaginal dryness can be annoying, especially during sex, but there are over the counter lubricants that work wonders. Choose one in a cute bottle that heats or cools to increase sensitivity.
You're still a woman after menopause. I was scared that I would never feel like a woman again, but I was even more scared of turning into a man. Without estrogen I thought my breasts would shrink, I'd start growing facial hair and my voice would lower. That silly thought was soon proven wrong when none of those things happened.
You will be able to lose weight and stay fit. I asked my doctor about testosterone production, as some women in menopause have trouble with low testosterone, which can cause side effects like reduced sex drive. I was told the adrenal gland picks up testosterone production for most women, so I wouldn't lose my ability to build muscle, maintain muscle and feel sexy.
Breast cancer survivors are some of the bravest people in the world, especially my friend and secret muse. I watch her struggles with mammograms and wonder what is keeping her from taking that final step to protect her from another bout of breast cancer. Hopefully, if she is reading, she'll feel a little better about menopause.
More from Summer on Menopause
Is Black Cohosh the Biggest Scam in Natural Menopause Treatment?
I'm Too Womanly for My Own Health: The Link Between Menopause, Fat Loss, and Estrogen Overload
Early Menopause Health Risks: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
