ACS :: Sexuality for the Woman with Cancer

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Sexuality for the Woman with Cancer

Here, we offer you and your partner some information about cancer, sex, and sexuality. We cannot answer every question, but we will try to give you enough information to help you and your partner have an honest discussion about your sex life. We will also share some ideas about talking with your doctor and your cancer care team. We include a list of other places to get help in the "Additional resources" section at the end of this document. These are other good sources of more information.


	Cancer, Sex, and Sexuality Feelings about sexuality affect our zest for living, our self-image, and our relationships with others.

	What Is a Normal Sex Life? People vary a great deal in their sexual attitudes and practices. This makes it hard to define "normal."

	How the Female Body Works Sexually During the years when a woman can have children, her ovaries take turns each month producing a ripe egg.

	Ways to Keep Your Sex Life Going Despite Cancer Treatment Here are some points to keep in mind as you continue your sex life during or after cancer treatment.

	How Cancer Treatment Affects Sexual Desire and Response Both men and women often lose interest in sex during cancer treatment, at least for a time.

	Pelvic Surgery to Treat Cancer Learn how surgery may affect your sexuality.

	Pelvic Radiation Therapy Learn how radiation therapy may affect your sexuality.

	Chemotherapy and Sex Learn how chemotherapy may affect your sexuality.

	Hormone Therapy Learn how hormone therapy may affect your sexuality.

	Surgery for Breast Cancer Can Affect Sexuality, too Sexual problems have been linked to mastectomy and lumpectomy -- surgeries that remove all or part of the breast.


	Ways of Dealing With Sexual Problems When you first think of restarting sexual activity, you may be afraid it will be painful, or that you will never reach orgasm again.

	Special Aspects of Some Cancer Treatments learn how ostomies, laryngectomies, and limb amputations may affect your sexuality.

	Keeping Your Sex Life Going It may take time and effort, but keep in mind that sexual touching between a woman and her partner is always possible.

	The Single Woman with Cancer Getting through cancer treatment can be really tough for a single woman.

	Advanced Cancer and the End of Life Touching, caressing, sharing, and emotional intimacy are always important -- even at the end of life.

	Frequently Asked Questions Answers to your questions.

	Professional Help The first step in finding help for a sexual problem is to discuss it with your doctor.

	Additional Resources Find more resources for sexuality and cancer.

	References

	Also in this area

	Radiation Therapy and Side Effects on Sexuality

	Sexuality for the Woman with Cancer

	Chemotherapy and Side Effects on Sexuality

	Sexuality for the Man with Cancer

Related Tools & Topics

	Learn About Cancer

	Making Treatment Decisions

	Circle Of Sharing: Personalize Your Cancer Information

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