Sex after treatment

Hi my name is Terri I am 33. In June of 99 I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. I have been cancer free for a little over 2 years.I've been in a relationship for 7 years. He went through the whole thing with me. I'm sorry to say that sex is very hard after treatment. Due to lack of harmones it is a very uncomfortable thing. I also have no sex drive so I rarely want anything to do with sex. But i'm lucky that I have a understanding, loving man beside me. How ever don't be afraid to try. Oh by the way we are ingadged. If you have anymore questions please fill free to e-mail me personally. Terri,

Comments

  • dawn1959
    dawn1959 Member Posts: 2
    Hi, my name is Dawn and I'm 43 years old. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 cervical cancer in Sep 2000. I had a radial hysterectomy, where they take out everything and basically carved me out like a pumpkin. I must have missed the part when the doctor told me about
    also taking part of my vagina along with it. It came as a suprise at how short things are now. I also along with the regular radiation treatments, had to have an internal radiation procedure done. This than made the lining of the vaginal very thin and sex can and is very uncomfortable for me. Luckly like you, I have a very understanding husband and have been married 20 years. Our sex life for the next remaining years will be very interesting to say the least. The doctors never warned me about the after affects. Since I had a complete hysterectomy, I went into Menopause right away, but I am able to wear a hormone patch which is WONDERFUL.

    Besides all this, I have never felt better in a long long time and have been cancer free for 1 1/2 years now.

    Dawn
  • tlinn
    tlinn Member Posts: 8
    dawn1959 said:

    Hi, my name is Dawn and I'm 43 years old. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 cervical cancer in Sep 2000. I had a radial hysterectomy, where they take out everything and basically carved me out like a pumpkin. I must have missed the part when the doctor told me about
    also taking part of my vagina along with it. It came as a suprise at how short things are now. I also along with the regular radiation treatments, had to have an internal radiation procedure done. This than made the lining of the vaginal very thin and sex can and is very uncomfortable for me. Luckly like you, I have a very understanding husband and have been married 20 years. Our sex life for the next remaining years will be very interesting to say the least. The doctors never warned me about the after affects. Since I had a complete hysterectomy, I went into Menopause right away, but I am able to wear a hormone patch which is WONDERFUL.

    Besides all this, I have never felt better in a long long time and have been cancer free for 1 1/2 years now.

    Dawn

    Hi Dawn it's me Terri again you replied to my message. I to had the radiation implants along with the radiation and chemo treatments. I didn't have a hysterectomy. From all of the radiation it just basically fried all of my female parts. As you did I also went into menopause. However I don't use any kind of harmones my doctor told me that while it would help me with sex and hot flashes and night sweats it also is a threat to me. She tells me that there is a higher chance of the cancer reoccuring if you take harmones. That scared me so I don't take them I just deal with it. I'm not trying to scare you I just wanted to inform you it's seems that your doctor has failed to do that already. Well I thank you for replying to my message and I wouldn't mind if you e-mailed me. maddiecam@hotmail.com if you want to talk. Terri,
  • bdymond
    bdymond Member Posts: 1
    I just want to reply by letting you know that the sex drive can return. It has for me. It wasn't until I started taking hormone replacements, though, but once I did, I started to feel like a normal, sexual woman again.

    Yes, you are a fortunate person! Not only with your man beside you, but that you have been cancer free for 2 years! I completed radiation therapy in the summer of 1985 and have had no reoccurrences!
  • Tracey
    Tracey Member Posts: 5
    Hi, Terri my name is Tracey. I had my hysterectomy in 1997, sex is difficult after treatment. I have had little pain during sex but periodically I have bleeding after intecourse. This was one of my symptoms for cervical cancer. However, the nurse told me that the bleeding is a side effect from the radiation therapy (scar tissue) from the trauma of intercourse (lubrication etc.) Have you or anyone experience the bleeding either before or after treatment after intercourse. Please feel free to email me to chat tkrobinson7@hotmail.com