Many of the problems discussed here are common among anyone with a cancer diagnosis, but some changes affect only females or only males, and others are caused by particular treatments. The changes may be temporary or ongoing.
Learn tips for managing:
- Fatigue
- Sadness and depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of sexual pleasure
- Loss of desire
- Erection problems
- Changes in ejaculation
- Difficulty reaching orgasm
- Changes to the vagina
- Pain
- Incontinence
- Changes in appearance
- Removal of a body part
- Adapting to life with a stoma
- Adapting to life after a brain tumour
- Early menopause
- Fertility issues
Listen to our podcast on Sex and Cancer
More resources
Helena Green, Clinical Sexologist and Counsellor, inSync for Life, WA; Anita Brown-Major, Occupational Therapist, Thrive Rehab, VIC; Karina Campbell, Consumer; Nicole Kinnane, Nurse Consultant, Gynae-oncology Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Headway Health and Concord Hospital, NSW; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Kath Schubach, Urology Nurse Practitioner, President – Australia and New Zealand Urological Nurses Society (ANZUNS), VIC; Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Health Psychology, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW; Maria Voukelatos, Consumer. We would like to thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Life after cancer treatment
Webinars, exercise and nutrition, sexuality programs, and back-to-work support
Cancer information
Your coping toolbox
Strategies for managing difficult situations during and after cancer treatment
View our publications
Guides and fact sheets for people with cancer, their families and friends