Anna Crollman

These first-hand tips for combatting forced menopause side effects can help you live an active and healthy life while reducing your risk of recurrence. As a young breast cancer patient with hormone-positive cancer, my standard course of treatment included a combination of chemotherapy, surgery such as a hysterectomy, and the dreaded combination of medications (tamoxifen, anastrozole, letrozole, Lupron) that force you into medical menopause.

Making decisions once you reach the 5-year mark on hormone-blocking therapy can leave you feeling conflicted, but remember that you’re in the driver’s seat. Reaching the 5-year mark as a breast cancer survivor is something of a milestone. It’s the checkpoint at which your risk of recurrence begins to diminish significantly. For breast cancer survivors on hormone-blocking therapy, though, the 5-year mark can be a confusing time filled with uncomfortable decisions.

Cancer may change the way you feel about your body and what feels good to you. But with a combination of self-reflection, physical intervention, communication, and patience, you can rebuild your intimacy. After a breast cancer diagnosis, the last thing you’re likely thinking about is sex. Instead, you’re probably thinking about your treatment costs, upcoming surgery decisions, the cost of battling cancer, and how to manage the side effects of chemotherapy.