How Cancer Affects Intimacy
Cancer takes a toll on all aspects of your health. From physical and mental to sexual and emotional, this disease can alter your life at every stage. It’s easy to feel discouraged, angry, or sad as cancer causes everyday routines and passions to become cumbersome.
Depending on where you’re at in your cancer journey, it’s understandable if intimacy isn’t a priority on your list of things to think about. However, if sex has been at the forefront of your mind, you may find this article helpful.
How Cancer Affects Sexual Health
The main causes of problems with sex and intimacy during your cancer journey are the treatments—mainly chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy drugs are very powerful; intended to kill cancerous cells quickly. However, due to the strength of the treatment, you may experience nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhea, and much more. Having a low to non-existent libido during this time is completely normal. Most doctors advise patients to refrain from any sexual relations during chemo treatments. Issues with abnormal bleeding and the probability of passing traces of chemotherapy via vaginal secretions or semen are high.
Aside from chemo, radiation therapy can also wreak havoc on your sexual well-being. Men who receive treatments to specific areas like their bladder, pelvis, anus, or prostate have a higher chance of sexual dysfunction. Radiation can cause damage to the surrounding blood vessels and nerves causing a higher probability of erectile dysfunction. In women, pelvic radiotherapy can cause the vaginal tissues to become less stretchy and cause pain.
Steps to Improve Your Situation
Try Integrative Cancer Care
While chemo and radiation are two of the most known ways to treat cancer, there are other options that may be appropriate for you, in addition to or independently from these treatments. Integrative cancer care provides a blend of holistic and conventional methods to help treat the disease. This kind of care may minimize some of the side effects that occur during your cancer journey, as it additionally focuses on bettering health through nutrition, botanical medicine, movement and mindfulness. Reducing the number of short-term and long-term effects while on your cancer journey can allow you to enjoy sexual intimacy at a greater level.
Visit a Professional
Instead of trying to navigate things alone, visit a trusted health professional. For sexual health-related problems, an oncologist, therapist, urologist, or primary physician are some of the best people to contact. They each offer different expertise, so it depends on what medical advice you feel would best fit your situation. For example, if a mental block is preventing you from actively enjoying sex, you may need to visit a therapist or psychologist. But if the problem you’re experiencing is more physical, like erectile dysfunction, a primary physician or urologist are the better choices. These professionals can recommend ED medications, implants, and therapies.
Correct Common Issues
Chemotherapy and radiation have a lot of side effects that can cause your confidence and self-esteem to plummet—including hair loss and skin problems. These issues can result in anxiety during sexual intercourse. To reverse hair loss and improve your confidence in this area, try natural oil blends. Mixing oils high in vitamins like castor, argan, and coconut oil can help decrease breakage, seal moisture, and nourish your scalp. However, these oils don’t guarantee instant growth. For more visible results, use a hair growth product like Minoxidil or a concentrated vitamin like Biotin. For your skin, try over-the-counter hyperpigmentation correctors to help you lighten dark marks due to radiation therapy.
Be Kind to Yourself
Whether you’re actively in treatment or out of it, the cancer journey isn’t easy. Realize that even though some things may have changed, you’re still you. Be patient with yourself, and allow yourself time to acclimate to your current situation. Effects from cancer treatment may cause some changes to your sex life, but sexuality and intimacy can still provide confidence, excitement, and connection. Take this time to explore new things and keep an open mind.
Use these tips to rediscover the sexual intimacy you deserve and live your best life. For more cancer resources, click here.
Sources:
Sexual health issues in men and cancer treatment - side effects. National Cancer Institute. (2018, August 9). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/sexuality-men