HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Oncs trivialize side effects: the 2 big ones

AlaskaAngel · 01-12-2007, 12:33 PM

This is just one message I've received from another patient, but it is genuine, and I offer it as food for thought. The issue of loss of sexuality is invisible most of the time and because of that it gets lost in the shuffle of treatment. I think it is tragic if we cannot find ways to productively do a better job of offering more realistic options to people who suffer enough from a cancer diagnosis as it is:

"During one of the chats we began discussing sex. Well, one woman recommended cocoanut oil--boy is that a good suggestion--and then you brought up the topic of smoking and whether that might influence the sex drive as it did when we were kids?

I finally got a sample. Well, smoking allowed me and my husband to have sex for the first time since diagnosis. (over 2 years) He has a lot of problems sexually and if I don't make a real effort, then he can't. And I have felt like it before. If I do make an effort--and I did--yesterday--then we can have a lot of fun. So thanks. Don't know if I will ever get more, but it sure was fun while it lasted."

01-12-2007, 12:33 PM	#9
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	To patients AND their medical providers This is just one message I've received from another patient, but it is genuine, and I offer it as food for thought. The issue of loss of sexuality is invisible most of the time and because of that it gets lost in the shuffle of treatment. I think it is tragic if we cannot find ways to productively do a better job of offering more realistic options to people who suffer enough from a cancer diagnosis as it is: "During one of the chats we began discussing sex. Well, one woman recommended cocoanut oil--boy is that a good suggestion--and then you brought up the topic of smoking and whether that might influence the sex drive as it did when we were kids? I finally got a sample. Well, smoking allowed me and my husband to have sex for the first time since diagnosis. (over 2 years) He has a lot of problems sexually and if I don't make a real effort, then he can't. And I have felt like it before. If I do make an effort--and I did--yesterday--then we can have a lot of fun. So thanks. Don't know if I will ever get more, but it sure was fun while it lasted."