An innovative study conducted by the University of Western Sydney looks at the lives of cancer carers and how intimacy and sex are often the unspoken casualties of cancer. The study, conducted by the University of Western Sydney, is part of a larger project that looks at the needs of cancer carers in an attempt to identify what types of support services are most effective. Based on a series of questionnaires which were completed by cancer carers, the study found that 80 per cent of carers believed that the diagnosis of cancer had a detrimental impact on their sexual relationship with their partner. The vast majority of both male and female carers believed that ther partner's cancer had impacted on their sexuality and that a lack of communication about sex and intimacy was a major issue.
"For some couples, the person with cancer was hesitant to discuss issues relating to sexuality and carers generally felt they did not want to put further stress on the partner with cancer by raising the topic," said study leader, Dr Emilee Gilbert. "There was also a perception among some of the older couples in the study that sex was a taboo subject in the context of cancer."
For younger females in the study, issues such as whether to start a family, would their partner with cancer be around to help raise any children, or could they even get pregnant, were also raised as concerns. "Part of the unwillingness to raise the topics of sex and intimacy probably stems from not being given the license to talk about it. Those feelings left them feeling angry, upset and resentful of health care professionals," Dr Gilbert says.
The study also found the failure by doctors to discuss issues relating to intimacy and sexuality with a couple made it difficult for carers to feel they could legitimately discuss their feelings. "In many cases, because health professionals did not bring the subject up, carers did not feel they could bring it up."
However, when the topic was raised by the health care professional and questions were asked and answered, the couple reported an excellent experience. Dr Gilbert says the reason the subject of sex and intimacy was not raised more often by providers was because some may have felt it would be seen as either intrusive or disrespectful. She also believes there is a need for support to be offered to people with cancer and their carers to facilitate communication about sexuality.
Source: Research Australia
