Sarah-Jane found it difficult to cope with how her gynaecological cancer diagnosis and treatment affected her experience of pleasure and intimacy. The lack of information from her medical team and conversations around how a woman’s intimate relationship with their body and sex can change during and after cancer treatment left her feeling invisible.
Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Sarah-Jane is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. For many people, your sex life and sexual health can be important parts of your life before, during and after cancer. September is also Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. Sarah-Jane created her video not only to share her own personal experiences. She also wanted to raise awareness of the importance of talking about and supporting people around intimacy as part of conversations around treatment and surgery.
“The body I knew changed now forever.”
Sarah-Jane describes her story and why she created her video:
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Nearly 3 years ago I was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer stage 3B and womb cancer stage 1B at the age of 42, my cancer is incurable but treatable so I get checked every 3 months. With side effects from surgery and the feelings that come with a cancer diagnosis, I very much ‘live with cancer’ which is why it is important that our pleasure and intimacy should be recognised and part of the conversation we are having with our oncology teams especially when our cancer is gynaecological and the treatment involves removing parts of our bodies that are linked to my intimacy and pleasure.
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Sarah-Jane’s video is called “Hushed voices and red faces.” Sarah-Jane’s video has subtitles/closed captions. Hear her story by clicking on the video below:
Sarah- Jane's Story: Hushed Voices and Red Faces - YouTube
Sarah-Jane 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.
“Not starting important conversations about how cancer changes our bodies as women and our relationship with pleasure right at the very start of our surgery and treatment is failing us.”
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.
Lots of members talk about sex here on the Online Community. We see every day how helpful it can be to have conversations with people who can understand how you feel. Everyone’s relationship with sex and their body is different. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Our blog “Let’s talk about cancer and sex” features lots of support and resources around sex.
We would like to thank Sarah-Jane for sharing her story with us and the Online Community. Has Sarah-Jane’s story helped you to feel more comfortable to talk about intimacy and find support? What do you find helpful to reconnect with yourself and finding pleasure? Let her know in the comments below.
Read more blogs from the Digital Storytelling Project:
What do you wish people would say? Katy’s story
Cancer and covid as a deaf person: Eleni’s story
Managing cancer and side effects at work: Elvina’s story
Read more blogs like this:
Let's talk about cancer and sex
Being a partner and a carer: how cancer can affect relationships
