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AlaskaAngel · 07-30-2009, 09:37 AM

Thanks for supporting me about this issue.

The ACS contacted me, providing a link to more materials they have online about cancer survivors and sexuality that are better than the link I had received originally. I had thought the newer link they sent was by e-mail and accessible to me, and so I would be able to pass it on to you, but it wasn't. I will try searching their site for it.

However, I did save my reply to them for you:

Thank you for your thoughtful reply and the reference link to consider.

It is helpful to acknowledge the problems that exist in regard to cancer treatment and sexuality, such as in the following ACS information:

"The first step in finding help for a sexual problem is to talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to suggest someone who specializes in sexual problems.
Many health care professionals, including doctors, have little training in sexuality issues. They may not be at ease even talking about sex. Many doctors also fail to mention the sexual side effects of cancer or of medical treatments. If they do talk about it, they may give such an unclear picture that you may think that your sex life is over. If your cancer specialist can't help you, we suggest you ask your family doctor or other members of your health care team. If your doctors are not able to help you they should be able to refer you for help. There are many different programs and specialists that can help you find the answers you need."

However, acknowledging the problem should also focus on whether or not the doctors should continue to be licensed to advise patients about cancer therapy (and charge for that service) if they are not prepared or willing to provide genuine informed consent. Acknowledgement of the problem with the rationalization that doctors are free to pass the buck (with additional expense to the patient) is a poor choice for improving the status quo.

Again, please support patients as the priority, by providing a list of questions as previously suggested, to be fully acknowledged and discussed between the physician who is responsible for and prescribes the treatments and the patient who is to receive them. The physician actually may find such a list helpful too. If the physician is not capable of doing this then why should they be prescribing the treatments? It should not be up to the patient to be referred down the line until they find someone else to handle it.

Let's get healthy and be up front with patients and doctors.

07-30-2009, 09:37 AM	#8
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	Re: Genuine Informed Consent - An update Thanks for supporting me about this issue. The ACS contacted me, providing a link to more materials they have online about cancer survivors and sexuality that are better than the link I had received originally. I had thought the newer link they sent was by e-mail and accessible to me, and so I would be able to pass it on to you, but it wasn't. I will try searching their site for it. However, I did save my reply to them for you: Thank you for your thoughtful reply and the reference link to consider. It is helpful to acknowledge the problems that exist in regard to cancer treatment and sexuality, such as in the following ACS information: "The first step in finding help for a sexual problem is to talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to suggest someone who specializes in sexual problems. Many health care professionals, including doctors, have little training in sexuality issues. They may not be at ease even talking about sex. Many doctors also fail to mention the sexual side effects of cancer or of medical treatments. If they do talk about it, they may give such an unclear picture that you may think that your sex life is over. If your cancer specialist can't help you, we suggest you ask your family doctor or other members of your health care team. If your doctors are not able to help you they should be able to refer you for help. There are many different programs and specialists that can help you find the answers you need." However, acknowledging the problem should also focus on whether or not the doctors should continue to be licensed to advise patients about cancer therapy (and charge for that service) if they are not prepared or willing to provide genuine informed consent. Acknowledgement of the problem with the rationalization that doctors are free to pass the buck (with additional expense to the patient) is a poor choice for improving the status quo. Again, please support patients as the priority, by providing a list of questions as previously suggested, to be fully acknowledged and discussed between the physician who is responsible for and prescribes the treatments and the patient who is to receive them. The physician actually may find such a list helpful too. If the physician is not capable of doing this then why should they be prescribing the treatments? It should not be up to the patient to be referred down the line until they find someone else to handle it. Let's get healthy and be up front with patients and doctors.