Cancer, Sex, and Intimacy

A Couple's Guide

Anne Katz

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9781421453798
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Diseases & Allergies

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Human Sexual Response
• Chapter 2: “Who will want me when I look like this?”: Body Image Changes
• Chapter 3: “I have no interest in sex—will it ever come back?”: Absence of Desire
• Chapter 4: “Nothing’s happening down there”: Problems with Arousal
• Chapter 5: “What’s the point if I feel nothing?”: Changes in Orgasms
• Chapter 6: “It hurts—why is this happening?”: Pain with Sex
• Chapter 7: “My world is gray—I hate this feeling”: Depression and Anxiety
• Chapter 8: “I can’t take it anymore!”: When the Partner Leaves
• Chapter 9: “I’ve been affected too!”: The Impact on the Partner
• Chapter 10: “I miss touching her”: Sexuality at the End of Life
• Chapter 11: Communication
• Chapter 12: Lotions, Pills, and Potions
• Chapter 13: Finding Help
• Appendix 1. Mindfulness Meditation
• Appendix 2. Sensate Focus Exercises
• References
• Index