After your cancer treatment: How to maintain sexual intimacy

January 29, 2005 (Press Release) -- After your cancer treatment: How to maintain sexual intimacy

By Mayo Clinic staff
Emotional, physical and sexual intimacy may not seem like high priorities when it comes to cancer. The No. 1 goal of cancer treatment is survival. But as more and more people achieve this goal — nearly 9 million Americans alive today have had or are undergoing treatment for cancer — such quality-of-life issues are growing in importance.

According to the National Cancer Institute, difficulties with sexual intimacy are common among cancer survivors. They're most common among people who have had cancers of the reproductive system, endocrine system and breast, as well as cancer of organs located near the reproductive system, such as bladder cancer and colorectal cancer.

Difficulty with sexual intimacy can arise from physical and emotional sources, such as:

Loss of sexual desire (libido)
Depression or anxiety
Surgery that changes or alters sexual routines
Menopausal symptoms
Concerns about fertility
You may experience problems with sexual intimacy during and after your cancer treatment. The good news is that most problems will improve over time, and those that don't can be overcome with help from your doctor.


more details:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=7662DF6D-F03B-47BE-8E18F107B4B52AFA&MOTT=SA00071