Embarrassment often stops us asking questions about sex. But whether you have an active sex life or not, it is a normal healthy part of our lives which allows us to share love, affection, excitement and pleasure with a partner.

In theory, treatment for cancer should not affect your sex life. However, the stress of your illness and/or treatment schedule may lead to a decrease in your sex drive. This can be due to a number of reasons from being chronically tired, to loss of confidence brought about by changes in body image as a result of treatment.

If you have a partner it is important to remember that he/she is frightened and worried about you. In many cases, partners are very anxious and apprehensive about hurting you during intimacy.

How you cope as a couple depends largely on the quality of the relationship you had prior to the cancer and your ability to talk to your partner about your feelings. By finding out as much as possible you can avoid confusion, anxiety and misunderstandings.