Your experience with breast cancer involves not only physical changes, but emotional ones as well. Exploring your feelings and reaching out to others may help you maintain an overall sense of vitality and well-being. Here are some suggestions:

• Nurture your self-esteem
  Work on restoring your sense of wholeness by focusing on all the things you can do. Reach out to your circle of support for reassurance and empathy
• Talk to family and friends
  Focus on people who support you and make you feel comfortable
• Renew intimacy
  The physical and emotional experience of breast cancer can affect your sex life in many ways, and is different for every woman. The good news is, research has found that after the first 6 months of adjuvant treatment, the majority of women with breast cancer have been able to resume satisfying sexual lives.
    Learn what you can do to resume—and maintain— a healthy sexual life.
• Find hope in spirituality and prayer
  People coping with cancer often draw enormous comfort from their spiritual beliefs and practices
• Acknowledge meaningful events
  Developing special rituals to mark the stages of your breast cancer experience can be a source of renewal
• Find ways to relax
  There is evidence that some relaxation practices are extremely effective in reducing the anxiety and pain associated with cancer treatment. These practices include meditation, guided imagery, and yoga
• Know that you're not going through breast cancer alone
  Learn from other women who have been affected by breast cancer
• Focus on your overall health
  Research has shown that doing some kind of regular exercise and eating a healthy, low-fat diet can greatly improve your overall health and well-being. You may also benefit from massage therapy, humor, journaling, creative arts, psychotherapy, and participating in a support group. Nutrition is important, both during and after treatment. Learn more