Cancer Today - Winter 2018/2019

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Cancer surgeries, such as nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, have helped preserve urinary and erectile functions in many men, says Arthur Burnett, a urologist at Johns Hopkins University School of

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Medicine in Baltimore, although he cautions that there is still work to be done to understand and improve erectile function after surgery. He advises his patients to work on their physical health, which includes adopting a healthy diet, not smoking and getting regular exercise, all of which have been shown to improve erectile function.

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Techniques to help connect mind and body may also help to increase sexual satisfaction. For example, a study in the Jan. 1, 2018, issue of Cancer that polled 46 ovarian cancer survivors found that a half-day workshop that combined sexual health education, rehabilitation training and cognitive behavioral therapy skills increased self-reported sexual function and reduced anxiety about sex.

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In many cases, couples may need to learn new approaches. With regard to sexual intimacy, “you may have to do things you never did before,” says Cameron, whether that means planning ahead to use devices to help with sex or finding alternatives to vaginal intercourse. Ultimately, these efforts can bolster relationships. “Those conversations are intimate, and they can build intimacy—and that can strengthen the partnership,” Cameron says.

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This was the case for Ginyard, the prostate cancer survivor in Baltimore. During the time he and his wife couldn’t have intercourse, they developed a new sense of intimacy by talking about the changes he was experiencing and deepening their shared religious faith.

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The couple spent time walking, holding hands, reading and watching movies at home together. “I could admire my wife without sex being on the table,” he says, adding that that admiration and closeness remained once his sexual function returned after his treatments ended.

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Reframing how a person or a couple thinks about sexuality can be the key to finding intimacy and satisfaction after a cancer diagnosis. “The goal of sexual intimacy and intercourse is to enjoy it,” says Dizon, “so sometimes play is more important than performance.”