Talking About Sex Lives and Cancer with Brian Lobel & Beth McCann

In this episode of The Sexual Wellness Sessions hosted by Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist Kate Moyle, we're discussing the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on sex lives and relationships. My guests for this conversation are the amazing Brian Lobel and Beth McCann from the organisation Sex With Cancer; which is an art project and community enterprise that looks at innovative solutions to the often-ignored problem of illness, intimacy, sexual function and pleasure. Brian Lobel is an artist who has been working in cancer care and patient advocacy since 2003, after a diagnosis of testicular cancer when he was 20 years old, and he now performs and writes both creatively and academically on the subject of cancer. Beth McCann is a Clinical nurse specialist for young people with cancer with a special interest in sexual health.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment touch all areas of our lives; but sexual wellbeing is not a commonly discussed topic. Often people describe feeling that there is a blind spot around the subject which adds to the challenge of questions, queries, and knowing where to turn for advice. This is exactly what Sex With Cancer as an organisation are trying to achieve. It was launched by people with cancer, for people with cancer for exactly this reason.

The impact of cancer for sufferers and partners is enormous, and can create changes in all areas of our lives physically, emotionally, in terms of self-image and confidence, relationships, psychologically, hormonally and in terms of our identity, and so it's not a surprise then that we see some of that reflected in our thinking, feeling and behaviours when it comes to sex.

Drawing on personal experience, and working with a steering group of advocates and experts in the worlds of sex, sexual health and cancer care, Sex with Cancer aims to develop into a permanent resource where people living with and beyond cancer can access information, practical solutions and products about sex without shame, and with an eye to pleasure, fun and connection.

sexwithcancer.com @SexWithCancer This episode was brought to you by The YES YES Company, producers of natural personal lubricants, vaginal moisturisers and intimate washes.

YES products are hypoallergenic and certified organic by the Soil Association, made from ethically sourced plant-based ingredients, without parabens, glycerine or hormones. This is ideal for cancer patients seeking natural relief from vaginal dryness brought on by cancer treatments, to restore comfortable sex.

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Kate Moyle is Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, who is passionate about having open and normalising conversations around sex and relationships; and helping people to get to a place of sexual health, happiness and wellbeing.

Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy