We are honored to be collaborating with the Bright Spot Network to support YA couples that are going through or have been through a cancer journey.
Some statistics and studies relating to relationships, sex and intimacy for AYAs:
A study from NCBI found that 82.9% of partners reported that cancer impacted their relationship, with 55.9% reporting a negative impact
A 2020 Sexual Health study found that 87% of cancer patients reported sexual toxicity (cancer treatment negatively impairing their sexual health)
A 2021 NCBI Sexual Health Study found decreased sexual sensation and sexual responsiveness affects over 60% of women diagnosed with cancer while erectile dysfunction affects up to 75% of men with cancer
A 2022 ASCO journal article reported that only 27.9% of cancer patients were asked about their sexual health even tho 87% of patients reported sexual function affects; men asked far more than women
During our discussion, we covered may things relating to sex and intimacy, including the following:
- Medical teams typically do not address sex other than safety and discussion participants wanted to also discuss chemo side-effects relating to intimacy, pleasure, and changes
- Seeking the help of therapy and sex therapy can be frustrating and daunting as it isn’t covered by insurance, there are long wait lists, and the exercises given by therapists create more ‘to-do items’ and can drain energy
- It can be difficult to advocate for yourself, find the right resources, and find the right people who have the knowledge, information, and tools to help
- There is grief around body changes, sexual changes, relationship changes and while you try to adjust to a new normal, everything is constantly changing (cancer, kids, life, etc.)
- Sex can become painful which is hard on the partner as well, especially when it had been a pleasurable, connective activity in the past and partners do not want to add pressure to the partner with cancer
- Trying to see how sex and intimacy can look different without feeling like a failure
- Shifts in what feels good and having to communicate this during sex
- Going through the same experience but from two very different lenses
- Navigating and respecting different coping mechanisms
- There can be POSITIVES that come out of having to navigate cancer as a couple – it bringing you closer together, finding your strength and resilience, being forced to go to therapy that helped you grow as individuals and as a partnership
