Body image, sexuality, and family planning: LGBTQ+
- Medical Review: Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake, MD, Victoria Seamon, MA, LPCC
If you have breast cancer and you’re a member of a sexual and gender minority (SGM) community, you may have unique concerns and experiences when it comes to your body and sense of sexuality, gender, and self. If you are planning to have children, your conversations with your care team and the choices you make about fertility and family planning are likely to be different than they are for heterosexual people.
Breast cancer and body image as an LGBTQ+ person
Being diagnosed with, and treated for, breast cancer is one of many experiences that can affect your body image and self-esteem. How you feel about your body image during and after treatment depends on many things, including your sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).
Everyone responds differently to the physical changes of breast cancer. Your self-esteem and body image can be related to:
- The type of treatment you’ve had (and how your body may have changed as a result)
- What breasts, hair, and other physical features mean to your identity
- How you felt about your body and sexuality before diagnosis
- A personal history of sexual abuse
- A personal history of eating disorders
- A personal history of serious illness
- Whether you have a disability
- Media messages (TV, ads, or social media) and culture-specific norms
Your past experiences and relationships, personality, and support system also play a role in how breast cancer will affect your body image.
Breast cancer treatment side effects can affect how you feel. You may be tired and scared at times; depression and anxiety are also common before, during, and after treatment. Physical side effects of treatment, including surgery and certain medicines, can include:
- Changes in how your breast or breasts look and feel
- Hair loss
- Lymphedema, a condition in which extra lymph fluid builds up and causes swelling under the skin of the hand, arm, breast, chest, or torso
- Skin changes
- Weight gain or loss
Some side effects can be managed with medicine, prescription or over-the-counter skin care products, or physical therapy. To reduce the risk of chemotherapy-related hair loss, scalp cooling or cold cap therapy may be an option. Other side effects are harder to treat. Either way, changes to your body can affect your body image, self-esteem, and sexuality.
No two people share the same feelings about their body image, and no two people experience their breast cancer diagnosis or treatment the same way either. How you react to and cope with your body image during and after treatment is unique to you and your life, whether you’re cisgender or transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, or asexual. If you’re experiencing challenges related to body image and sexuality, you are not alone. LBBC has resources for emotional support that can help.
Breast reconstruction surgery
If your healthcare team recommends mastectomy (removal of one or both breasts), and having breasts is important to you, ask your team about breast reconstruction.
Breast reconstruction, or surgery to reshape or rebuild the breast after a mastectomy, can have a positive impact on body image after mastectomy if having breasts is important to you. Reconstructive techniques can also be performed after large lumpectomies to restore the shape and size of the breast.
Some people decide to have reconstructive surgery after mastectomy or lumpectomy, and others choose not to. Deciding not to have reconstruction is sometimes called “going flat.” This decision can be based on many factors, including:
- Risk of complications of having reconstruction
- Political and cultural views
- Gender norms and standards of beauty and femininity
- Opinions of partners (relationship status)
- Social support and influence
- Age
Reconstructive surgery is a personal choice—based on your personal, emotional, and body image needs—that only you can make for yourself. There is no right or wrong decision.
If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community who has chosen mastectomy as part of your treatment for breast cancer and you aren’t sure whether you want breast reconstruction, ask your breast surgeon for a referral to see a breast reconstruction surgeon. It can help to understand your options and what the surgery may involve, including how long it may take to recover. You may also consider talking to a mental health professional who specializes in treating LGBTQ+ people with cancer to help you decide if reconstruction is right for you. Your hospital or cancer center may be able to direct you to the right person.
Additional resources that can be supportive for making breast reconstruction decisions are available at Cancer.net.
Sexuality and intimacy
Body image can have a big effect on your intimate and sexual relationships, because those areas of your life are likely linked with how you feel about your physical self.
Many people in treatment for breast cancer face challenges regarding sexuality and sex. If you are a member of an SGM community, these challenges may be different than those of cisgender, straight people. It may be helpful to find support and help among other LGBTQ+ people who are being treated—or have been treated—for breast cancer.
Treatments—and the fatigue, discomfort, and pain that sometimes go with them—may weaken a person’s sex drive. Stress can have the same effect. Meanwhile, holding hands, hugging, and doing other non-sexual things with your partner can maintain the intimacy in your relationship, even if you aren’t having sex. Learn more about ways to manage sexual side effects.
Communicating with your partner about sexual life
If you are in a relationship, try to be open and honest with your partner about what you’re feeling, and encourage your partner to do the same. Seeking advice from a couples counselor or sex therapist may also be helpful.
If you’re single, it can feel stressful to tell potential new sexual partners about your history of breast cancer. It may help to take a new relationship, and expressions of attraction and intimacy, slowly.
Visit Talking with your partner about sex for more support and information.
Fertility and family planning
If you’re thinking about getting pregnant in the future, and you identify as someone who is LGBTQ+, your plans and choices about fertility and family planning are likely impacted by your sexual orientation, your body, or both. Being treated for breast cancer will affect those decisions and plans, too.
Some breast cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or ovary removal, can interfere with the ability to get pregnant by causing irregular menstrual cycles or triggering early menopause. And some treatments can harm an unborn baby, such as chemotherapy in later trimesters of pregnancy. Endocrine (anti-estrogen) therapy to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is never safe for an unborn baby.
Still, there are options for preserving fertility and having children. These include freezing eggs or embryos for later use and pausing an endocrine therapy plan long enough to get pregnant. If having children is important to you, let your care team know. Ask about fertility treatment options. You can learn more about how certain breast cancer treatments impact fertility—and ways to preserve fertility—in the Breast cancer and fertility section.
Getting information about fertility from your care team
Research shows that for people diagnosed with breast cancer, fertility options aren’t discussed as often as they should be.
Your doctors may only focus on treating the cancer. Some people find that their doctors don’t always bring up relationship status, personal life, or goals, including the issue of fertility. And if you’ve come out to your doctor, in some cases, it can feel like they may be assuming that you aren’t interested in having children because of your sexual orientation, sex assigned at birth, or age. Whatever the situation, if you think you may want to get pregnant at some point, it’s important to speak up as early as possible.
“I wish I had been asked: Do you want kids? Do you have a partner? Tell me more,” shares Victoria Seamon, MA, LPCC, a therapist and LBBC Young Advocate who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 at age 34. “Things look very different when you’re in a same-sex relationship.”
Victoria adds, “There’s way more planning involved with pregnancy for same-sex couples. There’s a lot at stake to not have a guaranteed pregnancy. When I compare that to heterosexual couples, they may not have to invest as much money, and resources are more easily accessible.”
Ask your doctor about your specific concerns. If your doctor doesn’t respond well, or doesn’t provide the information you need, seek a second opinion to find another doctor with whom you’re more comfortable.
If having children is important to you, let your doctor know as early as you can so you can learn about fertility preservation options before beginning treatment. It’s also important to know that egg harvesting can be an option for some people after active treatment if there wasn’t an opportunity to do it before treatment.
Stay connected
Sign up to receive emotional support, medical insight, personal stories, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.
Reviewed and updated: February 12, 2024
Reviewed by: Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake, MD , Victoria Seamon, MA, LPCC
Tagged:
- 3-dimensional radiation therapy
- 4-hydroxytamoxifen
- ablation
- abnormal
- Abraxane
- absolute risk
- AC regimen
- AC-T regimen
- AC-T-T regimen
- AC-Taxol regimen
- AC-TH regimen
- accelerated partial-breast irradiation
- action study
- acupoint
- acupressure
- acupuncture
- acupuncture needle
- acupuncture point
- acupuncture point injection
- acupuncturist
- acustimulation
- acute
- acute pain
- adenocarcinoma
- adenopathy
- adenosis
- adjunct agent
- adjunct therapy
- adjunctive therapy
- adjuvant therapy
- advance directive
- advanced practice nurse
- adverse effect
- aerobic exercise
- agent study
- aggravating factor
- aggressive
- AJCC staging system
- Alkeran
- alkylating agent
- Allegra
- allopathic medicine
- alopecia
- amifostine
- aminoglutethimide
- amitriptyline
- anabolic steroid
- analgesic
- anaplastic
- anastrozole
- ancillary test
- anemia
- anesthesia
- anesthesiologist
- angiogenesis
- angiogenesis inhibitor
- antagonist
- anthracycline
- anti-anxiety medicine
- anti-idiotype vaccine
- anti-inflammatory
- antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
- antibody therapy
- anticachexia
- anticancer antibiotic
- anticancer therapy
- anticonvulsant
- antidepressant
- antiemetic
- antiestrogen
- antifolate
- antigen-presenting cell vaccine
- antihormone therapy
- antimetabolite
- antimitotic agent
- antineoplastic
- antitumor
- anxiety
- anxiolytic
- Anzemet
- APN
- apocrine gland
- apoptosis
- aprepitant
- areola
- Aromasin
- aromatase inhibitor
- aromatherapy
- arthralgia
- ascites
- aspirate
- aspiration
- assay
- asthenia
- asymptomatic
- atypia
- atypical ductal hyperplasia
- atypical hyperplasia
- atypical lobular hyperplasia
- avoidance
- axillary lymph node
- axillary lymph node dissection
- BAK gel
- balloon catheter radiation
- baseline
- behavior modification
- best practice
- BI-RADS
- Biafine cream
- bias
- bilateral
- bilateral breast cancer
- bilateral prophylactic mastectomy
- bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
- biofeedback
- biologic
- biopsy
- biopsy specimen
- biotherapy
- bisphosphonate
- bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis
- blinded study
- blood-brain barrier
- blood-brain barrier disruption
- blood cell count
- blood chemistry study
- board certified oncology pharmacy specialist
- body image
- body mass index
- bolus dose
- bone density
- bone metastasis
- bone mineral density scan
- bone scan
- bone-seeking radioisotope
- brachytherapy
- brain metastasis
- BRCA1
- BRCA2
- BRCAPro
- breast carcinoma in situ
- breast-conserving surgery
- breast density
- breast duct
- breast duct endoscopy
- breast lobe
- breast lobule
- breast reconstruction
- breast self-exam
- Brief Pain Inventory
- cachexia
- CAF regimen
- calcification
- cancer vaccine
- candidiasis
- capecitabine
- carboplatin
- carcinogen
- carcinoma
- carcinoma in situ
- carcinomatous meningitis
- carcinosis
- carcinostatic
- cardiotoxicity
- caregiver
- carmustine
- case-control study
- case report
- case series
- CAT scan
- CBC
- cell
- cell-cycle regulation
- cell proliferation
- central nervous system
- central nervous system metastasis
- central nervous system prophylaxis
- central venous access catheter
- cetuximab
- cevimeline
- chaplain
- charged-particle radiation therapy
- chemoembolization
- chemoimmunotherapy
- chemoprevention
- chemoprevention study
- chemoprotective
- chemoradiation
- chemosensitivity
- chemosensitivity assay
- chemosensitizer
- chemotherapeutic agent
- chemotherapy
- chest wall
- chest X-ray
- Chinese meridian theory
- chronic
- chronic pain
- cisplatin
- Claus model
- clergy
- clinical
- clinical breast exam
- clinical practice guidelines
- clinical researcher
- clinical resistance
- clinical series
- clinical stage
- clinical staging
- clinical study
- clinical trial
- clinician
- clodronate
- CMF regimen
- cognition
- cognitive behavior therapy
- cognitive therapy
- cohort
- cohort study
- combination chemotherapy
- comedo carcinoma
- comfort care
- Coming Out
- Community Advisory Board
- comorbidity
- compassionate use trial
- complementary and alternative medicine
- complementary medicine
- complete metastasectomy
- complete remission
- complete response
- complex decongestive therapy
- compliance
- complication
- compression garment
- computed tomography scan
- concomitant
- concurrent therapy
- condition
- consolidation therapy
- constitutional acupuncture
- continuum of care
- contract research organization
- contraindication
- contralateral
- contrast material
- control group
- controlled clinical trial
- controlled study
- conventional medicine
- conventional therapy
- cope
- coping skills
- core biopsy
- core needle biopsy
- corticosteroid
- counseling
- COX inhibitor
- cryoablation
- cryopreservation
- cryosurgery
- CT scan
- cultural competency
- cumulative dose
- cumulative exposure
- cure
- cutaneous
- cutaneous breast cancer
- cyclophosphamide
- cyclosporine
- CYP2D6 inhibitor
- cystosarcoma phyllodes
- cytopenia
- cytotoxic
- cytotoxic chemotherapy
- Cytoxan
- Data and Safety Monitoring Board
- DCIS
- de novo
- debulking
- definitive surgery
- definitive treatment
- dehydration
- denosumab
- depression
- diagnosis
- diagnostic mammogram
- diagnostic procedure
- diagnostic technique
- diagnostic trial
- diameter
- diarrhea
- diaziquone
- DIEP flap
- dietary counseling
- dietary supplement
- dietitian
- differentiation
- diffuse
- digital mammography
- diphenhydramine
- discharge
- disease progression
- disease-specific survival rate
- distant cancer
- distant metastasis
- Distant recurrence
- distress
- DNR order
- docetaxel
- dolasetron
- dose
- dose-dense chemotherapy
- dose-dependent
- dose-limiting
- dose-rate
- double-blinded
- doxorubicin
- drain
- dronabinol
- droperidol
- drug interaction
- drug resistance
- drug therapy
- drug tolerance
- duct
- ductal carcinoma
- ductal carcinoma in situ
- ductal lavage
- duloxetine
- durable power of attorney
- dysfunction
- dysgeusia
- dyspepsia
- dyspnea
- early menopause
- early-stage breast cancer
- edema
- EEG biofeedback
- efficacy
- Eklund displacement views
- electroacupuncture
- electron beam
- eligibility criteria
- Ellence
- emesis
- emetic
- endocrine
- endocrine therapy
- endpoint
- energy healing
- enteral nutrition
- epidemiology
- epirubicin
- ER+
- ER-
- ER
- ER-PR-HER2/neu-
- eribulin mesylate
- erythema
- estradiol
- estrogen
- estrogen blocker
- estrogen receptor
- estrogen receptor-negative
- estrogen receptor-positive
- estrogen receptor test
- estrogen replacement therapy
- etanidazole
- etidronate
- everolimus
- Evista
- excision
- excisional biopsy
- exemestane
- expanded access trial
- experimental
- extranodal
- false-negative test result
- false-positive test result
- familial cancer
- family medical history
- Faslodex
- fast-neutron beam radiation
- fatigue
- FDA
- febrile neutropenia
- FEC regimen
- Femara
- fertility
- fexofenadine
- fibroadenoma
- fibrocystic breast changes
- fiducial marker
- film mammography
- fine-needle aspiration biopsy
- first-degree relative
- first-line therapy
- five-year survival rate
- fluorouracil
- fluoxetine
- FNA biopsy
- focal
- Food and Drug Administration
- Fosamax
- fractionation
- fulvestrant
- functional magnetic resonance imaging
- gadolinium
- Gail model
- gallium scan
- gamma irradiation
- Gamma Knife therapy
- gamma ray
- Gelclair
- gemcitabine
- gene
- gene expression profile
- gene therapy
- general anesthesia
- generalized anxiety disorder
- generic
- genetic
- genetic counseling
- genetic marker
- genetic marker of susceptibility
- genetic predisposition
- genetic profile
- genetic susceptibility
- genetic testing
- genetic testing
- genetics
- genome
- genome-wide association study
- genomic profile
- genomic test
- genomics
- gland
- Good Clinical Practice
- goserelin
- grade
- grading
- granisetron
- gross description
- Halaven
- hazard ratio
- healing touch
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- healthcare provider
- healthcare proxy
- healthy control
- helical computed tomography
- HER2/neu
- Herceptin
- hereditary
- hereditary mutation
- heteronormative
- high-dose chemotherapy
- high-dose radiation
- high-energy proton therapy
- high grade
- high-risk cancer
- HIPPA
- histologic examination
- histology
- historic cohort study
- historical control subject
- homeopathic medicine
- hormonal therapy
- hormone
- hormone receptor
- hormone receptor test
- hormone replacement therapy
- hormone responsive
- hormone therapy
- hospice
- hot flash
- human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
- human participant protection regulations
- hydroxydaunorubicin
- hyperalimentation
- hypercalcemia
- hyperfractionated radiation therapy
- hyperfractionation
- hyperplasia
- hypersensitivity
- hypofractionated radiation therapy
- hypofractionation
- hypoxia
- ibandronate
- ibuprofen
- idiopathic
- image-guided radiation therapy
- imaging
- imaging procedure
- immune adjuvant
- immune function
- immune response
- immune system
- immune system tolerance
- immunization
- immunoassay
- immunocompromised
- immunodeficiency
- immunohistochemistry
- immunology
- immunomodulation
- immunosuppression
- immunotherapy
- implant
- implant displacement views
- implant radiation therapy
- implantable pump
- in situ
- incidence
- incision
- incisional biopsy
- indication
- indolent
- induction therapy
- infection
- infertile
- infertility
- infiltrating breast cancer
- infiltrating ductal carcinoma
- inflammation
- inflammatory breast cancer
- informed consent
- infusion
- ingestion
- inherited
- iniparib
- injection
- inoperable
- insomnia
- Institutional Review Board
- intensification therapy
- intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- interfering thought
- internal mammary lymph nodes
- internal radiation therapy
- International Unit
- internist
- interstitial radiation therapy
- intervention
- intervention group
- intra-arterial
- intracarotid infusion
- intradermal
- intraductal breast papilloma
- intraductal carcinoma
- intrahepatic
- intrahepatic infusion
- intramuscular
- intramuscular injection
- intraoperative radiation therapy
- intraoperative ultrasound
- intratumoral
- intravasation
- intravenous
- intravenous infusion
- intravenous injection
- intrusive thought
- intrusive thoughts
- invasive breast cancer
- invasive cancer
- invasive procedure
- investigational
- investigator
- ionizing radiation
- ipsilateral
- IRB
- irradiated
- irradiation
- irreversible toxicity
- ixabepilone
- joint pain
- Karnofsky Performance Status
- laboratory test
- lapatinib
- laser
- laser surgery
- laser therapy
- lassitude
- late effects
- late-stage cancer
- latent
- laxative
- LEEP
- legal aid organization
- lesion
- lethargy
- letrozole
- leukopenia
- levels of evidence
- Lexapro
- libido
- lidocaine
- ligation
- linac
- linear accelerator
- lipoma
- lisofylline
- liver metastasis
- liver scan
- living will
- lobaplatin
- lobe
- lobectomy
- lobular carcinoma
- lobular carcinoma in situ
- lobule
- local anesthesia
- local cancer
- local therapy
- localization
- localized
- locally advanced cancer
- locally recurrent cancer
- lomustine
- loop electrosurgical excision procedure
- loop excision
- lorazepam
- low grade
- lubricant
- lumbar puncture
- lumpectomy
- lung metastasis
- luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist
- lymph
- lymph gland
- lymph node
- lymph node dissection
- lymph node drainage
- lymph node mapping
- lymph vessel
- lymphadenectomy
- lymphadenopathy
- lymphangiogram
- lymphangiography
- lymphatic basin
- lymphatic fluid
- lymphatic mapping
- lymphatic system
- lymphatic vessel
- lymphedema
- lymphography
- lymphoscintigraphy
- Lyrica
- lytic lesion
- macrocalcification
- magnetic resonance imaging
- magnetic resonance perfusion imaging
- magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
- mainstream medicine
- maintenance therapy
- male breast cancer
- malignancy
- malignant
- malignant pleural effusion
- malnutrition
- mammary
- mammary dysplasia
- mammary gland
- mammogram
- mammography
- MammoSite
- Mammotome
- mantle field
- MAO inhibitor
- margin
- marker
- mass
- massage therapy
- mastectomy
- mastitis
- maternal
- maximum tolerated dose
- mean survival time
- measurable disease
- medial supraclavicular lymph node
- median
- median survival time
- Medicaid
- medical castration
- medical device
- medical nutrition therapy
- medical oncologist
- Medicare
- medicine
- medullary breast carcinoma
- mega-voltage linear accelerator
- megestrol
- melphalan
- meningeal metastasis
- menopause
- menorrhagia
- menstrual cycle
- menstrual period
- menstruation
- mental health
- mental health counselor
- meridian
- mesna
- meta-analysis
- metallic
- metastasectomy
- metastasis
- metastasize
- metastatic
- methotrexate
- metoclopramide
- metronomic therapy
- microcalcification
- micrometastasis
- microscopic
- milk duct
- mind/body exercise
- mindfulness relaxation
- Miraluma test
- mitigate
- modified radical mastectomy
- molecular marker
- molecular medicine
- molecular risk assessment
- molecularly targeted therapy
- monoamine oxidase inhibitor
- monoclonal antibody
- morbidity
- mortality
- MRI
- MRSI
- MTD
- mTOR
- mucositis
- multicenter study
- multicentric breast cancer
- multidisciplinary
- multidisciplinary opinion
- multidrug resistance
- multidrug resistance inhibition
- multifocal breast cancer
- music therapy
- mutation
- mutation carrier
- myalgia
- myelosuppression
- nanoparticle paclitaxel
- narcotic
- National Cancer Institute
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- National Institutes of Health
- natural history study
- naturopathy
- nausea
- NCCAM
- NCI
- NCI clinical trials cooperative group
- needle biopsy
- needle localization
- needle-localized biopsy
- negative axillary lymph node
- negative test result
- neoadjuvant therapy
- neoplasm
- nerve
- nerve block
- neurocognitive
- neurologic
- neuropathy
- neurotoxicity
- neurotoxin
- neutropenia
- NIH
- nipple
- nipple discharge
- nitrosourea
- NMRI
- node-negative
- node-positive
- nodule
- nonblinded
- nonconsecutive case series
- noninvasive
- nonmalignant
- nonmetastatic
- nonprescription
- nonrandomized clinical trial
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor
- nontoxic
- normal range
- normative
- NP
- NPO
- NSAID
- nuclear grade
- nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
- nuclear medicine scan
- nurse
- nurse practitioner
- nutrition
- nutrition therapy
- nutritional counseling
- nutritional status
- nutritional supplement
- nutritionist
- obese
- objective improvement
- objective response
- observation
- observational study
- obstruction
- off-label
- olaparib
- oncologist
- oncology
- oncology nurse
- oncology pharmacy specialist
- oncolysis
- ondansetron
- onset of action
- oophorectomy
- open biopsy
- open label study
- open resection
- operable
- opiate
- opioid
- opportunistic infection
- oral
- organ
- orthodox medicine
- osteolytic
- osteonecrosis of the jaw
- osteopenia
- osteoporosis
- OTC
- outcome
- outpatient
- ovarian
- ovarian ablation
- ovarian cancer
- ovarian suppression
- ovary
- over-the-counter
- overall survival rate
- overdose
- overexpress
- overweight
- ovulation
- PA
- paclitaxel
- paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation
- paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelle
- Paget disease of the nipple
- pain threshold
- palliation
- palliative care
- palliative therapy
- palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
- palonosetron hydrochloride
- palpable disease
- palpation
- palpitation
- pamidronate
- panic
- papillary tumor
- Paraplatin
- parenteral nutrition
- paroxetine hydrochloride
- PARP
- PARP inhibitor
- partial-breast irradiation
- partial mastectomy
- partial oophorectomy
- partial remission or partial response
- pastoral counselor
- paternal
- pathologic fracture
- pathological stage
- pathological staging
- pathologist
- pathology report
- patient advocate
- Paxil
- peau d'orange
- pedigree
- peer-review process
- peer-reviewed scientific journal
- perfusion magnetic resonance imaging
- perimenopausal
- periodic neutropenia
- perioperative
- peripheral neuropathy
- peripheral venous catheter
- personal health record
- personal medical history
- personalized medicine
- Pertuzumab
- PET scan
- pharmacist
- phase I/II trial
- phase I trial
- phase II/III trial
- phase II trial
- phase III trial
- phase IV trial
- phlebotomy
- photon beam radiation therapy
- phyllodes tumor
- physical examination
- physical therapist
- physical therapy
- physician
- physician assistant
- physiologic
- PI3 kinase inhibitor
- pilocarpine
- pilot study
- placebo
- placebo-controlled
- plastic surgeon
- plastic surgery
- population study
- positive axillary lymph node
- positive test result
- positron emission tomography scan
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- postmenopausal
- postoperative
- postremission therapy
- potentiation
- power of attorney
- PR
- PR+
- PR-
- practitioner
- precancerous
- preclinical study
- predictive factor
- pregabalin
- premalignant
- premature menopause
- premenopausal
- prescription
- prevention
- preventive
- preventive mastectomy
- primary care
- primary care doctor
- primary endpoint
- primary therapy
- primary treatment
- primary tumor
- Principal investigator
- prochlorperazine
- progesterone
- progesterone receptor
- progesterone receptor-negative
- progesterone receptor-positive
- progesterone receptor test
- progestin
- prognosis
- prognostic factor
- progression
- progression-free survival
- progressive disease
- Prolia
- proliferative index
- promegapoietin
- prophylactic
- prophylactic mastectomy
- prophylactic oophorectomy
- prophylactic surgery
- prophylaxis
- prospective
- prospective cohort study
- prosthesis
- protective factor
- protein
- protein-bound paclitaxel
- protein expression
- protein expression profile
- protocol
- proton
- proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
- pruritus
- psychiatrist
- psychological
- psychologist
- psychosocial
- psychotherapy
- PTSD
- pump
- punch biopsy
- qi
- qigong
- quadrantectomy
- quality assurance
- quality of life
- radiation
- radiation brachytherapy
- radiation dermatitis
- radiation fibrosis
- radiation necrosis
- radiation nurse
- radiation oncologist
- radiation physicist
- radiation surgery
- radiation therapist
- radiation therapy
- radical lymph node dissection
- radical mastectomy
- radioactive
- radioactive drug
- radioactive seed
- radioisotope
- radiologic exam
- radiologist
- radiology
- radionuclide
- radionuclide scanning
- radiopharmaceutical
- radiosensitization
- radiosensitizer
- radiosurgery
- radiotherapy
- raloxifene
- raloxifene hydrochloride
- randomization
- randomized clinical trial
- receptor
- RECIST
- reconstructive surgeon
- reconstructive surgery
- recreational therapy
- recurrence
- recurrent cancer
- referral
- reflexology
- refractory
- refractory cancer
- regimen
- regional
- regional anesthesia
- regional cancer
- regional chemotherapy
- regional lymph node
- regional lymph node dissection
- registered dietician
- regression
- rehabilitation
- rehabilitation specialist
- relapse
- relative survival rate
- relaxation technique
- remission
- remission induction therapy
- remote brachytherapy
- research nurse
- research study
- resectable
- resected
- resection
- residual disease
- resistant cancer
- resorption
- respite care
- response rate
- retrospective cohort study
- retrospective study
- risk factor
- Rubex
- salpingo-oophorectomy
- salvage therapy
- samarium 153
- sargramostim
- scalpel
- scan
- scanner
- scintigraphy
- scintimammography
- sclerosing adenosis
- screening
- screening mammogram
- second-line therapy
- second-look surgery
- second primary cancer
- secondary cancer
- secrete
- sedative
- segmental mastectomy
- selection bias
- selective estrogen receptor modulator
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- sentinel lymph node
- sentinel lymph node biopsy
- sentinel lymph node mapping
- sepsis
- sequential AC/Taxol-Trastuzumab regimen
- sequential treatment
- SERM
- sertraline
- Serzone
- sestamibi breast imaging
- sexuality
- sibling
- side effect
- silicone
- simple mastectomy
- simulation
- Single-agent therapy
- sleep disorder
- social service
- social support
- social worker
- sodium thiosulfate
- soft tissue
- solid tumor
- somatic
- somatic mutation
- sorafenib
- specialist
- specificity
- spiculated mass
- spinal anesthesia
- spinal block
- spiral CT scan
- spirituality
- sporadic cancer
- SSRI
- stable disease
- stage