Love in the Time of Cancer is all about cancer and love and
sex. I started writing this out of frustration in finding medical folks willing
to talk openly and specifically about sex in the time of cancer. Since I couldn’t
find those others I decided that I’d have to become what I was wishing for—not
a bad way to approach many things in life I’ve discovered. So I started writing
this blog, which became a book and then a presentation and now a cause.
So I love to share resources for other couples that are
facing cancer and who want keep a great sex life. So many forces—medical,
religious, cultural and social still think cancer and sex are separable but
I—for many reasons believe they are inseparable. I had my first experience with
cancer in my twenties when I was just discovering my sexual potential and I was
not going to give that up. I got knocked for a loop but—like Rocky—came back
stronger. And more passionate—in every sense. And grateful to the women and men
that I learn from.
So here are two books and one writer that I highly
recommend. The tagline on both books is identical and it says: “Reclaim your
sex life after a cancer diagnosis…”
The books are: “Woman Cancer Sex” and “Man Cancer Sex” by
Anne Katz, RN, PhD. Katz is an oncology nurse and a sexuality counselor at
CancerCare Manitoba and she writes a regular column for The American Journal of
Nursing called, “Sexually Speaking”.
Just to give you a sense of how complete and open her
writing is, some of the chapter headings in “Woman Cancer Sex” and “Man Cancer
Sex” include these topics: Loss of Sexual Desire; Problems with Orgasm; Painful
Sex; Lesbians with Cancer; Partners of Patients with Cancer; Sex and Terminal
Illness.
Not a lot of euphemisms in these books and no pretending
that cuddling is enough.
Both books are paperbacks and can be ordered by your local
bookstore.
