One of the least talked-about and most personal impacts of cancer treatment is how it affects intimacy, sexuality, and body image. Sexual health is a normal part of life, yet it’s often excluded from conversations because it’s considered taboo. Although it can be uncomfortable to discuss, talking openly with your partner, physician, or in a support group setting about your sexual health is important; you can’t know what’s normal or address a problem unless you give yourself the chance to explore it.
Understanding How Cancer Treatment Affects Sexual Health
Cancer treatments can often cause physical and hormonal changes that affect sexual health. For example, chemotherapy and radiation can sometimes weaken pelvic muscles or damage nerves, and pelvic radiation may cause vaginal stenosis or muscle tightness. Other effects include hair loss, hormone changes, nausea, diarrhea, tiredness, stomach or bladder problems, pain, scars, or changes in how you look, all of which can affect your ability or desire to have sex.
Reconnecting with Yourself and Rebuilding Body Image
It’s common to experience fear or anxiety when it comes to intimacy. Cancer can completely change how you view your own body, especially when scars or physical changes may become your main focus. It might feel like everything is now defined by what’s “left of you,” but healing involves adjusting your mindset and learning that these changes do not define you. It’s also important to regain a sense of normalcy by returning to work, exercising, enjoying your hobbies, and creating daily routines.
Remember, building comfort with your own body is the first step before sharing closeness with someone else; as your comfort grows, so will your confidence and ability to be intimate with your partner.
How Physical Therapy Supports Recovery and Sexual Wellness
Physical therapy can be a great way to boost your confidence, strengthen your body, and enhance the quality of your life after treatment. The Woman’s Outpatient Therapy Department at Woman’s Center for Wellness offers comprehensive programs with therapists trained in pelvic health and oncology-related conditions. To prevent appointment fatigue, many women go once a week and then do home programs given to them by their therapist. Although it varies from patient to patient, most women will begin to see improvements within their first month of therapy intervention.
As board-certified Oncologic Physical Therapist Angela Page notes, “Many women come in feeling anxious and hopeless, but in just a few sessions, we can get them to where they feel like they can get back to a normal life.” After about two to three months, most women feel comfortable enough to leave therapy to manage their conditions on their own.
Supporting Your Mental and Emotional Health
Physical changes from cancer treatment often intertwine with emotional challenges, impacting confidence, body image, and overall sexual well-being. Navigating these feelings alone can feel overwhelming. Seeking support from a social worker or licensed professional counselor can help address these emotional challenges early on, while sexual health specialists can provide guidance in rebuilding intimacy and confidence.
Woman’s also has support groups and educational classes, such as Navigating Sexual Health to provide you with a safe space to share experiences, learn new strategies, and realize you are not alone in your journey.
Communicating with Your Partner About Intimacy
Opening up to your partner about changes you might be experiencing can feel uncomfortable, especially when your confidence and body image have been affected. However, honest and open communication is essential to rebuilding intimacy. Discussing what feels different, uncomfortable, or concerning helps you both align your expectations and understand each other’s needs. Involving a healthcare provider in your conversation or attending couples therapy can also be a helpful way to discuss challenges and solutions together in a supportive space.
In addition, it might be helpful to rethink what intimacy can mean. Exploring alternatives at your own pace can create opportunities for connection that feel safe and comfortable. Scheduling time for intimacy might also help rebuild desire and enjoyment. Angela reminds us that, “your need to find your new ‘normal,’ which can be filled with so much potential and so much happiness; you just need to be open to it.”
Ultimately, approaching these conversations with honesty, patience, and a willingness to adapt as a team can help you move forward together with greater understanding and closeness.
Moving Forward
Navigating sexual health during and after cancer treatment can be challenging, especially if you don’t quite feel like yourself in your own body. Although it may be an uncomfortable topic, open communication with your partner, healthcare team, and even yourself is an essential part of the healing process. Sexual health is a journey, and with patience and understanding, it’s possible to move forward in a way that feels right for you.