November 23, 2010 10.37 am This story is over 160 months old

Cancer specialists talk about sex

Sexual help: Medical staff in Lincolnshire are learning about sexual health issues of cancer patients.

Health professionals in Lincolnshire are receiving training in how to talk to cancer patients about sex.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support invited cancer care staff to a workshop, covering issues like body image and sexual therapy.

Staff were able to ask questions, share stories and take part in group work sessions to explore sex with cancer, discuss implications and encourage patient openness.

The Trust believed this to be an important issue because some cancers mean it’s difficult to have sex, negatively affecting confidence and relationships.

So by allowing patients to talk to a professional before or during treatment can help patients and partners understand and cope.

Macmillan are currently holding a national campaign, called Sex is a Prickly Issue, to make sexual issues in cancer awareness a priority.

Caroline Boyer, the Macmillan Information and Support Services Lead at ULHT, organised the workshop and said:

“Sexual issues affect many cancer sufferers and it is important that health professionals have the skills and confidence to talk openly with cancer patients.

“We feel that the workshop helped to make a good deal of progress in this area and we received great feedback from the health professionals in attendance on the day.”

Source: ULHT | Photo: Macmillan