Spring finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. The weather is still a little chilly here in New York, but the temperatures are definitely trending upward. Before you know it the flowers and trees will start blooming all over again, and I’ll want to write blog posts from the shade of a tree instead!
Spring can be invigorating after a long, cold winter. But for couples who are dealing with the effects of cancer and its treatment, the arrival of spring may not feel the same. This may have been a season you've associated with spending more time with your partner--taking walks, holding hands and showing affection. It's natural to want to relate to your partner in intimate ways...to touch, hug and kiss, to give and receive love. But people with cancer sometimes feel removed from sexual and intimate experiences for any number of reasons.
Some patients or their partners may feel that
- These are not life or death issues and don't deserve their attention.
- Sex should be the last thing on one's mind.
- They are being selfish for being concerned about sex.
Sexuality is not just about physical needs, but also about psychological, social, emotional and spiritual factors. It includes self image, body image, reproductive ability, emotional intimacy, sensual feelings and sexual functioning. Discussing sexuality-related concerns may be important to your quality of life in areas that are not limited to sexual functioning, such as, feeling comfortable with yourself and enjoying close communication with loved ones.
Learn more about how can you cope when your cancer has affected your sexual and intimate relationships by downloading our Sexuality and Intimacy fact sheet.
Also take some time to listen to our recent teleconference, Sexuality and Intimacy After Cancer, a telephone education event that featured Sage Bolte, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C.
Consider sharing your experiences here. Has cancer affected your relationship with your partner? How have you and your partner handled this?