Chapter 9: Addressing Sexual and Body Image Concerns
Overview:
- Identifies ‘The sexual response cycle’
- Explains reasons why the addressing of sexual and body concerns with cancer patients is necessary
- Lists general factors affecting sexual functioning and medication which effects sexual functioning
- Describes the philosophy of sexual rehabilitation
- Provides guidance and a practical model for addressing sexual and body image concerns
Description:
This chapter explores how all cancer patients have a sexual identity and are at risk of sexual and body image concerns as a consequence of their cancer diagnosis and treatment. It describes all the responsibilities that all health professionals need to address such concerns and it gives them suggestions and advice on how to do so.
Topics:
- Why address sexual and body concerns with cancer patients?
- The sexual response cycle
- The prevalence of sexual concerns
- Factors affecting sexual functioning
- Concerns associated with common cancer sites
- A philosophy of sexual rehabilitation
- Barriers to care for health care professionals and patients
- A practical model for addressing sexual and body Image concerns
- Permission (P)
- Limited information (LI)
- Specific suggestions (SS)
- Intensive therapy (IT)
- Putting it all together
- Resources for health professionals and for patients
- References
- Resource sheet 9.1 Some ideas to get your sex life back on track!
Speaker / Author:
Dr Katharine Hodgkinson
Katharine is a clinical psychologist and member of the College of Clinical Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society with both clinical and research expertise in psycho-oncology. Katharine worked for eight years in a tertiary oncology service providing psychosocial care to women with gynaecological cancer and their families as well as education to other health professionals. As an honorary associate of three Sydney universities she provided clinical supervision to clinical psychology interns at master’s level. In 2006, she completed her doctorate, which examined predictors of psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors and their partners, and resulted in the development of two psychometrically established measures of unmet supportive care needs for cancer survivors and their partners. Katharine has published numerous research papers in peer reviewed journals, presented at conferences and co-authored a book chapter on the psychosocial and spiritual care of cancer patients.
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