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51
SIDE EFFECTS AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT /// CHAPTER 35
Sexual
Changes
Cancer treatment
might change how
things function for a
time. Treatment can
also cause fatigue
and a lower libido
(desire for sex).
Cancer treatment can
change the way you
look, and how you
feel about your body.
Most of these changes are
temporary and many can be
addressed, but you're going
to have to tell your medical
team about it for them to
help. Trust us, they've heard
and seen it all - take a deep
breath and just blurt it out.
You'll be glad to get things
addressed. There are often
ways of dealing with the
physical effects of treatment
on your sex life. There may
also be other ways of sharing
intimacy and affection with a
partner.
Talk openly with your partner
about any issues or fears you
have about having sex (see
chapters 53 and 54).
Male Stuff
You might find it difficult to get an erection if the cancer or the treatment has damaged
the nerves and blood vessels in your pelvis. Surgery to the prostate, bowel or rectum may
also cause erection problems.
Low levels of the male hormone - testosterone - can also make it difficult to get an
erection. This can sometimes happen if you have had radiotherapy or surgery to the
testicles . It also sometimes happens if you have had radiation to the part of the brain that
sends signals to the testicles to make testosterone. Low testosterone can also decrease
your libido. If low testosterone is the issue, your doctor can prescribe testosterone
replacement that can dramatically help these symptoms.
Lastly, some other prescription medications can cause trouble with erections. If you have
concerns about your prescribed medications, review them with your provider.
Female Stuff
You may know that chemo can cause a dry mouth and nose, but it can also cause vaginal
dryness. This can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Using waterbased
lubricants will alleviate this discomfort.
Cancer treatment can lower your female hormone - estrogen levels. Normally, this
happens when a woman around age 50 enters " menopause " and stops having periods, so
we often call symptoms of low estrogen " menopausal " symptoms. This may be temporary
(with some chemo, or if you are being given hormone shots to temporarily stop your
periods) or, sometimes permanent (if you have gotten radiation to the ovaries, or parts of
the brain that send signals to your ovaries, or high doses of chemotherapy that damage
the ovaries). Low estrogen can also cause vaginal dryness or lower your sex drive. If low
estrogen is the issue, your doctor may be able to prescribe an estrogen replacement that
can dramatically improve these symptoms.
Surgery to treat cancer might involve sexual organs including your breasts, uterus, ovaries
or vulva. This may affect your desire or ability to have sex and impact your body image.

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What Do I Do Now?

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of What Do I Do Now?

Contents
What Do I Do Now? - 1
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