I am Lindsay; I am a certified medical assistant, student, and well…cancer fighter! I sometimes say survivor, but the fact is I survive AND fight cancer at the same time. I live with cancer, I am not in remission, I am stable. It’s a long story…but maybe if Andrew lets me write again..I’ll go there later!
Sex. Awesome, thumbs up right? Well yeah…but what happens when all the sudden you have a nine inch scar down the span of your abdomen where some decent abs used to be! That’s me. I used to be really weirded out about wearing bikini’s or anything that showed my stomach..Who wants to have sex when they hate the way their body looks from cancer? Not only that, but the CHRONIC PAIN that comes from cancer, it’s treatments, surgeries, etc. Talk about a mood killer.
Whether you have scars all over, have lost your hair, have lost tons of weight, have gained weight from steroids, or just hurt all over…sex can drop pretty low on the priority list. I think the key is to find someone who makes you feel beautiful because you are strong. Scars aren’t ugly. Scars show strength, a life lived, and have stories behind them someone is going to want to hear some day.
I didn’t feel that great about myself until I gained back some weight, and some of the stiffness and intense pain faded. The fact is, scars fade. There are good people out there who are going to want to have sex with you, not just because you are hot, but because you are tough as hell. I promise, from my own personal experience. SEX WITH CANCER CAN BE GREAT. My advice, Google articles on sex and relationships and cancer treatment. I read once about certain positions for people with discomfort. Certain lubricants, more natural ones, that are ok for women going through radiation to the pelvic region. AKA they won’t burn like hell!! Do your research. Love your poor tortured body no matter what it looks like. Cancer takes a whole lot away from you and leaves you reeling. But don’t let it take away your sex life, and you vibrancy and awesomeness. Keep living.
Lots of love from an alveolar soft part sarcoma fighter, and well…sex lover! Haha!
Lindsay
