sex-and-cancer

How cancer affects sexual life?
Due to body image concerns as well as concerns about odor and disfigurement, sexuality becomes a major issue with which the head and neck cancer patient and his or her spouse or significant other must deal. Couples often report ceasing a physical relationship following treatment for head and neck cancer. It is possible that such cooling of physical desire may be coincidental, since other factors may also be at work. Some additional factors associated with human sexuality as they relate to head and neck cancer include alcohol, aging, depression, and facial appearance. Broaching the topic of sexual function early by allowing the patient to know that it is appropriate to focus on this concern and also that the health care team is willing to address this issue helps to assure that this problem will be adequately addressed.

DID THE DOCTOR TELL YOU?

Doctors must talk with the cancer affected patient and care giver/family about the sexual life. This assures the patient and the family that medical help is available for sexual well-being. This is applicable to all diseases, all medical specialties.

Abstract:
Cancer can have a devastating effect on individuals and their families. Head and neck cancer can be particularly difficult because of the possibility of disfigurement and functional impairment. Psychosocial issues facing the head and neck cancer patient are numerous and include: coping with the initial cancer diagnosis, adjustment to living with cancer and the treatments involved (including difficulties with speech, eating and drinking, and sexual adjustment), depression and anxiety. The patient must also often confront issues with a spouse and family, facial disfigurement, rehabilitation, and for the terminal cancer patient, accepting death. It is recommended that additional psychosocial research and patient education efforts continue in order to assist head and neck cancer patients and their families.

Psychological And Psychosocial Implications Of Head And Neck Cancer
Rebecca Cogwell Anderson PhD
Associate Professor
Department Transplant Surgery
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Wisconsin USA

Kristin Anderson Franke
Department Transplant Surgery
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Wisconsin USA
To read the entire article click here.

Citation: R. Cogwell Anderson & K. Anderson Franke : Psychological And Psychosocial Implications Of Head And Neck Cancer . The Internet Journal of Mental Health. 2002 Volume 1 Number 2

The Internet Journal of Mental Health Vol. 1