"Intimacy after Cancer: A Woman's Guide"

Book review by Dr. Lori Brotto, UBC School of Nursing.

Many (if not most) cancers have a lasting impact on intimacy and sexual health. The scientific literature is abundant with longitudinal and cross-sectional studies exploring the impact of the cancer diagnosis and the ensuing medical, surgical, and hormonal treatments on sexuality. While it is indisputable that sexual health is an integral component of personal happiness, cancer care providers face barriers in addressing sexuality with oncology patients.

Given the sensitive nature of the topic, alongside its importance to a person's sense of well-being, the dissemination of sexual health related information in the form of a portable, accessible, and up-to-date book is very welcome. The book, "Intimacy after Cancer" by Dr. Sally Kydd and Ms. Dana Rowett represents the most recent and excellent addition to the small literature available for patients wishing to explore and improve their own sexuality following cancer. The book is written with the female cancer survivor in mind.

Dr Kydd, the lead author, is a clinical psychologist and a survivor of breast cancer. Her book was inspired by her own experience of sexual dysfunction following tamoxifen treatment, and the gentle and caring guidance from one of her physicians on this sensitive topic. Kydd and her co-author, Ms. Rowett (a medical writer), discuss the most common sexuality-related changes following cancer in a direct, easy to access manner.

Kydd and Rowett address the fact that sexuality is very difficult to discuss and many patients don't raise issues of sexuality with their cancer care providers. The book empowers women with cancer to ask for help if experiencing sexual concerns, and attempts to debunk many of the myths around sexuality that women carry -- myths such as "only intercourse is sex".

The first several chapters of the book focus on body image - a complaint plaguing many women even without a cancer history. However, the anecdotes shared in these chapters likely resonate with cancer survivors given that the authors articulate common concerns such as: mastectomy, the impact of scars, treatment-related weight gain/loss, chemotherapy-associated hair loss, and others.

Overall, "Intimacy After Cancer" represents an excellent resource for women, their partners, and for care providers to understand the delicate but immensely important facets of sexuality that may be impacted with cancer.

Intimacy after Cancer: A Woman's Guide. S. Kydd & D. Rowett --Redmond WA, Big think Media 2006