Greetings!
This Valentine's Day, as many spend time focusing on various aspects of their relationships, we wanted to offer some thoughts from sexual health experts on the importance of maintaining true intimacy after prostate cancer treatment:
"We are all hard-wired for human connectedness with others. On Valentine's Day, we are reminded of the important role an intimate partner plays in our lives. Most of us long to feel accepted, acknowledged and loved by another person, especially after prostate cancer. Relationships need time and attention to continue to build towards connection and understanding. It is my greatest hope that some of the resources provided through Us TOO will help you move towards a wholehearted life, including meaningful intimacy and enjoyable sex with your partner."
Dr. Jeffrey Albaugh
Board Certified Advanced Practice Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Board Certified Sexuality
Counselor, Director of Sexual Health at NorthShore University HealthSystem and at Jesse Brown VA
Medical Center, and member of the Us TOO Board of Directors
"Treatment for prostate cancer can impact, not only on a man’s ability to have or maintain an erection, but also his masculine self-image. Both of these can have a significant effect on the man’s partner, affecting intimacy in its truest sense – the emotional connection between the couple. Valentine’s Day emphasizes that connection that goes beyond sex and includes communication, touch and closeness."
Dr. Anne Katz
Certified Sexuality Counselor, Clinical Nurse Specialist at CancerCare Manitoba,
Editor of the Oncology Nursing Forum, and Author
Dr. Albaugh and Dr. Katz are both regular contributors to our
Hot SHEET newsletter supplement,
Between the Sheets. See previous issues at
www.ustoo.org/bts.
Both doctors also offered excellent presentations at our
Prostate Cancer Pathways for Patients and Caregivers event and webcast series last year:
CLICK HERE to watch Dr. Albaugh's presentation from the Chicago, IL event.
CLICK HERE to watch Dr. Katz' presentation from the Englewood, NJ event.
