Did a breast cancer diagnosis change how you felt about yourself or your relationship with a partner?
Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Issy is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. Issy talks about her feelings about her body and sexuality before, during and after her diagnosis and treatment. Her video talks about her relationship and what helped her to feel connected with being intimate.
“I was determined that cancer was not going to take away the person I was and was even more determined that my sense of femininity and sexuality would not be affected.”
Issy’s story is called “When the lights went out,” and talks about how sex and intimacy helped her through her experience with breast cancer. Issy’s video has subtitles/closed captions. Hear her story by clicking on the video below:
Issy's Story: When the Lights Went Out - YouTube
“I am a woman with a lust for life, as well as a lust for intimacy…and living the happiest and best life she can with cancer.”
Issy has created a video with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project and the Cancer, Sex and Intimacy Project. Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling workshops support people affected by cancer to tell their stories in their own words. Many Digital Storytellers have found support from attending these workshops and sharing their story as a video. If you’d like to get involved, you can find out more about it on Macmillan’s webpage about the Digital Storytelling project.
The Cancer, Sex and Intimacy Project featured a series of workshops alongside creating a booklet for people affected by cancer. This booklet has information and guidance around reconnecting with yourself and talking to your partner.
The project also created a short film to start conversations around sex and intimacy, and raise awareness.
Cancer can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves, our bodies and our relationships. The Online Community is a safe place to talk about how you feel.
If you are also affected by breast cancer, we have a supportive “Breast cancer” group you may find helpful to join.
If you related to Issy’s experiences, you might find it helpful to chat to other members on the Online Community who may understand what you’re going through:
“It is possible to remain sexual after breast cancer. It is possible to be desirable after mastectomy without reconstruction (possible with also). It is possible to find playful pleasurable ways to have sex and intimacy after breast cancer.”
Community member, “Sex and sensuality”, “Breast cancer” group
“The way I see it, your psychological well-being is part of restoring you to health, not just your body, so it is entirely legitimate to get help to reach this very reasonable goal of having a healthy body image.”
Community member, “symmetry - does it matter?”, “Breast cancer” group
We would like to thank Issy for sharing her story with us and the Online Community. Did cancer affect your body image and sexuality? Did you find Issy’s video helpful to watch? Let her know in the comments below.
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