How Cancer May Change Your Sexual Wellness and Body Image
Sexual Health After a Cancer Diagnosis
Cancer can bring significant physical and emotional changes that might make you feel "just not myself," particularly affecting your sexual health. Sexuality, which involves how you see yourself, in relation to, your gender, and your physical attraction to others, is a crucial part of your identity. It influences daily aspects like how you dress, care for your body, and interact with people around you.
Cancer Treatment and Body Image
Body image is about your thoughts and feelings regarding your body's functionality and appearance. The connection between sexuality and body image is intimate and complex. Cancer treatments often lead to physical changes such as fatigue, hair loss, scarring, weight, and skin changes. These changes, whether temporary or lasting, can deeply affect your sexual identity and how you attain pleasure from your body.
Certain cancers—like those affecting the breast, gynecological and genital areas, testicles, prostate, and more—can more directly influence sexual health. These changes might make you feel disconnected from your sexual self and your relationships.
Yet, a cancer diagnosis can also lead to a greater awareness of your body and its needs, potentially enhancing feelings of love and intimate connection either with yourself or your partner.
Navigating Changes
Whether you're single, dating, or in a committed relationship, changes in how you feel sexually are likely. Anxiety, stress, and transitioning between being a medical patient and a sexual being are common challenges. Here are a few strategies to feel more connected to your body:
Acknowledge and honor your feelings about body changes
Reflect on your past relationship with your body
Discuss your concerns with your medical team who might refer you to sexual health specialists
Connect with peers or support groups who are facing similar challenges
Explore new sensual pleasures and think about different ways to achieve sexual pleasure
Acknowledging and adapting to changes in sexual health and body image is crucial following a cancer diagnosis. As you work to reconnect with your body, consider discussing any sexual side effects and potential intervention strategies with your Iris Nurse. Additionally, speaking with an Iris Mental Health Therapist can be beneficial in coping with changes to your body and sexual experience.
This article meets Iris standards for medical accuracy. It has been fact-checked by the Iris Clinical Editorial Board, our team of oncology experts who ensure that the content is evidence based and up to date. The Iris Clinical Editorial Board includes board-certified oncologists and pharmacists, psychologists, advanced practice providers, licensed clinical social workers, oncology-certified nurses, and dietitians.
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