Cancer, Sex, and Intimacy: A Couple’s Guide

A practical and compassionate guide to navigating sexual intimacy during and after cancer.

Cancer changes lives--but it doesn’t erase the need for intimacy, connection, or sexual expression. In this essential guide, certified sexuality counselor Anne Katz, PhD, RN, offers a compassionate, candid, and evidence-based guide for individuals and couples navigating the often-overlooked sexual challenges brought on by cancer and its treatment.

Dr. Katz addresses the full scope of situations survivors may face, including an altered body image, loss of desire, physical pain, emotional distance, relationship strain, and more. Although these changes are common, they are rarely discussed openly--and survivors are often left to figure things out alone, or not at all. Through the stories of couples she’s worked with, Dr. Katz shows that while the path back to sexual intimacy may be complex, it is deeply worthwhile. With equal attention to anatomy and emotion, this book empowers readers to understand how cancer treatments impact sexual function, identity, and mental health--and how to reclaim pleasure and closeness at any stage of survivorship.

Clear explanations, practical tools--including mindfulness and sensate focus exercises--and thoughtful commentary make this guide both personal and informative. Cancer, Sex, and Intimacy fills a critical gap in survivorship care and reminds readers that sexuality is not a luxury, but a fundamental part of quality of life.

Anne Katz, PhD, RN, is a certified sexuality counselor in private practice. She is the author of numerous books, including Sexuality and Illness: A Guidebook for Health Professionals, Symptom Management Guidelines for Oncology Nursing, and Woman Cancer Sex.