Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer
Published on: October 31, 2025
Sexuality and body image after cancer
1kendras@nswcc.org.au
Background:
Cancer and its treatments can profoundly affect a person's sexuality including their body image, sexual functioning, relationships, identity and self esteem. One of the more common long lasting effects of cancer treatment is sexual dysfunction, yet for a number of reasons, health practitioners may not adequately address these topics.
Objective:
This article describes the range of factors contributing to psychosexual problems for people with cancer and provides a useful framework for addressing problems and taking a sexual history.
Discussion:
More than half of all people diagnosed and treated for cancer in Australia now survive their disease. Many of these survivors suffer from significant physical and emotional changes during and after their cancer treatments that affect their sexuality and sexual functioning. Such patients need an opportunity to discuss these changes with their health practitioners, but all too often are not given the opportunity to do so.
Related Concept Videos
02:18Cancer
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:12What is Cancer?
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
02:12What is Cancer?
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...