To Cancer : Complementary and Integrative Therapies of Cancer.

Archive for May, 2009

Symptom and Description Certain cancer therapies may leave you being unable to maintain sexual contact and intercourse in the same way as before treatment. It may be helpful to explore new ways of engaging in intimacy that you may not have thought of or have not tried.

You will need to keep an open mind and explore your own thoughts on intimacy. Open communication with your partner is needed if you are to be successful. If you find the thought of new sexual positions interesting but feel that old barriers such as your upbringing, religion, or culture prevent you from engaging in them, you may want to talk to a psychologist or sexual counselor. You may also wish to see a psychologist or counselor if you have problems with your relationship or have a history of sexual abuse. Your cancer nurse or doctor should be able to give you a referral.

Setting the Mood Talking to your partner and creating a sensual environment or ‘‘setting the mood’’ with whatever appeals to you—for example, candlelight, wine, massage, bathing together, sensual or erotic clothing, erotic pictures, movies, etc.—is an important part of successful intimacy. Foreplay and exploring each other’s body with touching, caressing, and/or finding new erogenous zones (e.g.,

neck, inner thighs, buttocks, feet) can enhance sensations and pleasure.

Procedure
1. Try sexual activities you may not have tried before such as oral-genital sexual contact or mutual masturbation. These may be pleasurable if you are unable to engage in intercourse.

2. Anal intercourse is an alternative technique requiring the use of lubricants and gentle dilation.

3. Use of mechanical devices such as vibrators can help maintain sexual gratification if you are male and your female partner desires vaginal penetration or if you are homosexual and your partner desires vaginal or anal penetration.

Follow-up

• If you have tried some of these suggestions but did not find them successful, contact your nurse or physician.
• Continued difficulty with sex may require the intervention of a psychologist or sexual counselor.