Not everyone is comfortable talking about sex, especially mesothelioma patients who have more pressing concerns and life in danger on their mind.
But if the topic of sex as important for these cancer patients?
course.
in the 18 years of work as a psychotherapist with cancer patients and their partners, I found couples are eager to learn all they can have sex safely and comfortably during and after treatment.
couples want to understand how cancer and its treatments affect their libido (also known as libido) and the ability to continue to enjoy sex as they had before the diagnosis. They also need guidance from doctors or other health professionals on how to improve their sexual intimacy if the cancer has decreased libido or negatively affected sexual function.
mesothelioma patients can usually have sex safely during and after treatment, but need some information from their doctors to guide and to better understand how the treatment affects sexual desire and function.
But raising the question of sex may be difficult for the patient and the doctor.
comfort levels of patients and Doctors
mesothelioma patients often say they want to talk about sex with their oncologists, but are reluctant to raise the issue.
reluctance is based on the assumption that the oncologist conversations should focus only on relevant topics such as cancer survival, not their sex life.
a 09 study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology shows the levels to discuss the impact of cancer on the sexual life of a patient comfort vary among physicians and other services professional health care.
"health professionals may also believe their discussions [about sex] can be interpreted as disrespectful and inappropriate by the patient, with research suggesting that sex, age, socio cultural factors -economic and religion all contribute to health professionals' avoidance of the subject, "the study shows.
most physicians expect their patients raise the issue of sex and cancer.
It is easy to see how concerns about sex can go unanswered when patients and doctors are not willing to engage in an open dialogue on the subject.
whether your doctors initiate the conversation, be brave and raise your concerns during your visits to the doctor. It is important because many newly diagnosed patients and their partners are not aware of security issues involving sex, cancer and treatment
Questions to ask your doctor about sex and mesothelioma.
- How soon after surgery or procedure can I have sex?
- should I take precautions during sex while I'm on chemotherapy?
- are there precautions after I finished my chemotherapy?
- How the treatment affect my energy levels, libido or both?
- How the treatment affect my fertility?
- Will I be able to have children after finishing the treatment?
- Is oral sex safe during treatment?
- you have other patients receiving the same treatment reported side effects that have a gender impact?
- How the treatment affect my hormone levels?
- is it safe for me to exert myself physically during sex while I'm on treatment?
- Can I take medication for erectile dysfunction during my treatment?
Sex can return Sense of Normalcy
So many things do not feel normal when you or a loved one battles mesothelioma.
The ability to deliver safely and comfortably in sex during treatment can help couples gain some normalcy. It can also improve the quality of life of a couple during a stressful and scary time.
It may take some courage to raise concerns and questions about sex to your doctor if you are not usually comfortable talking about your sexuality. But most patients find the reward of having these discussions is well worth the effort.
This post is the first installment in an occasional series on mesothelioma and sexual intimacy.
