Sexuality and cancer Archives

Oncology Man Erectile dysfunction and pleasure

June 5, 2026 Word for Word Media

Lisa Welsh details how to reclaim intimacy after prostate cancer and enjoy pleasure with erectile dysfunction.

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Prostate cancer treatment can change the way your body responds to sexual arousal. Surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy can all affect erectile function, sometimes temporarily, sometimes long-term. For many men, this is one of the most distressing parts of the cancer experience. If erections have become unreliable, or have disappeared entirely for now, it can feel like…

Oncology Man Eric Vorster – I felt like a failure

June 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

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In the hope of encouraging couples to speak openly, Eric Vorster and his wife, Thersia, share how they, as a couple, overcame erectile dysfunction resulting from prostate cancer treatment.

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Eric Vorster (68) lives in Heidelberg, Gauteng with his wife, Thersia. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Eric was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in 2016. He had no symptoms but was encouraged by his GP to include prostate cancer screening as…

Sexuality and cancer Exploring other forms of sexual connection

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Lisa Welsh explores other forms of sexual connection after oncology treatment.

After cancer, intimacy can feel like unfamiliar territory. Treatment, surgery, medication, and emotional stress can all impact how you feel in your body. For many people, intercourse might not feel possible, comfortable, or even appealing. That doesn’t mean your sex life is over. It might just need a new definition; one that includes the kind of closeness that fits your life right now. Sex can be so much more than penetration. It encompasses closeness, touch, play, trust, and shared pleasure. And in many cases, discovering new ways to…

For the boys Reframing sexuality for men on ADT

June 2, 2024 Word for Word Media

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The management of sexual dysfunction caused by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer is a critical aspect of survivorship; Dr Jireh Serfontein expands on this.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy in men, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a cornerstone in the management of advanced disease. Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect, with rates approaching 80 – 90% in men undergoing ADT for advanced prostate carcinoma. It’s essential to provide state-of-the-art review and management strategies for sexual…

For the boys Adapting to enjoy full sexual intimacy

August 2, 2021 Word for Word Media

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Dr Anthony Smith expands on ways to adapt after prostate cancer treatment so sexual function can be improved and sexual intimacy enhanced. The prostate’s anatomy is central to the nerves, muscles and vessels that supply the genitals so any damage to this area can have profound consequences. Its therefore no surprise that men fear this cancer and its potential to substantially damage their sexuality and masculine identity. So, let’s look at the side effects. Surgical treatments A cornerstone of treatment is a radical prostatectomy, now done as a nerve-sparing procedure which has improved the outcome such that up to 75% of men can expect to…

Cervical Cancer (Sex) Life after radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer

February 3, 2020 Word for Word Media

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Dr Mariza Tunmer, a radiation oncologist, tells us more about how radiation may cause side effects that can affect sexual health. Then Hester van Aswegen, a physiotherapist, advises what can be done to overcome these side effects. THE RADIATION ONCOLOGIST Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality used to treat many, if not most, patients with cervical cancer. When aiming to cure a patient diagnosed with cervical cancer, the treatment course will usually entail daily treatments, Monday – Friday, over six to seven weeks. Where possible, a low weekly dose of chemotherapy should be combined with radiotherapy as this improves cure rates….

Sexuality and cancer Sexuality – a ‘new me’ and a ‘new we’

March 20, 2019 Word for Word Media

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Satisfying sexual activity doesn’t rely on full physical perfection, and often after a diagnosis of cancer, a couple can connect and find levels of intimacy greater than what they had previously. Dr Anthony Smith explains. The diagnosis and management of cancer causes a radical disruption to normal life and can be devastating to the sexual lives of men. Over the last decade advancing therapies have allowed more people to survive cancer, resulting in longer periods of time over which disturbances in sexual function can occur. How cancer affects a man’s sexual health can broadly be divided into three areas: …

Sexuality and cancer The need for intimacy is ageless

March 26, 2018 Word for Word Media

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Sex is a powerful emotional experience and improves general health and well-being. Though, if you’re over the age of 60, sex can present challenges. Nonetheless, it’s possible, with better understanding and an open mind, for couples to have a physically and emotionally fulfilling sex life. Natural changes Naturally, sex might be different when you’re 70 or 80 than when you’re twenty something. Your body has changed and your sexual functioning might not be the same. On the other hand, as an older adult, you may feel wiser than you were in your youth, and know what works best for…

Sexuality and cancer Sexual dysfunction and cancer

December 1, 2017 Word for Word Media

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If you have survived cancer, you are more than likely dealing with the unfortunate consequence – sexual dysfunction. Corina Avni offers treatment options. If your cancer was in the pelvis or involved the sex hormones, your sex life is more than likely to be a common casualty of war. The good news, however, is although many cancer survivors suffer sexual dysfunction after cancer and its treatments, the majority overcome anything from discomfort to severe pain. Why the change? Sexual dysfunction after cancer ranges from not-quite-the-same-as-before to a-no-go-zone. This is dependent on: Who you are and your pre-cancer sexual function e.g….

For the boys Prostate cancer and sexuality

March 22, 2017 Word for Word Media

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As men age, their prostates become larger causing difficulty in urinating. This is known as benign prostatic hypertrophy and is not cancerous, but one out of six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) during their lifetime, and PC treatments can affect sexual functioning.

What is a prostate? It is a walnut-sized gland, which is part of the reproductive system in men. It lies below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds part of the urethra, which is the tube that transports urine from the bladder to exit the body. Its main function is…