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Does good sex help heal?

Page last modified on: September 3, 2008
Question from Fiddle de dee: Once my husband and I got over the hump of feeling fearful and awkward about resuming sex after my breast canceer, the result was great. We have hot, intimate times together without worry, and where the focus is just on feeling wonderful together. Does sex help us feel better, or is it just me?
Answers —Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N.: Sexual activity, especially good or wonderful sexual activity, releases endorphins, which are the body's natural morphine. So it is absolutely normal to feel better during and immediately after sex. In addition, the intimacy shared during sexual activity will also help you to feel better.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: It sounds like you have a very nice relationship with your husband, and it's certainly true that the best sex can occur within the context of a good relationship. I have some patients who have become more interested in sex after their breast cancer diagnosis. The way they explained it to me was to say that having sex made them feel more alive and in the moment at a time when they were feeling lifeless and isolated. Every woman has a unique response to all these new challenges in her life. You may be able to learn a lot from each other in support groups and in other forums where experiences can be shared in a private and safe and respectful setting.
Leslie Schover, Ph.D.: For single women, don't despair, because a large survey of breast cancer survivors also found that women who developed a new relationship after their breast cancer were the most sexually satisfied group compared to all the other women in the survey.

On Wednesday, February 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Intimacy, Sex and Your Love Life. Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N., and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about how to improve your sex life during and after breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D.Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.

Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N. is a hematology-oncology nurse at the Peterson Cancer Center of the Stanford Hospital in Stanford, California, and President of Cancer ACCESS, an advocacy and counseling organization for people affected by cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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