As treatments for cancer improve, and patients live longer, cancer is today considered a chronic illness and sexual health is becoming an important aspect of well being in cancer survivors. One of our research projects proved that cancer had a strong negative effect on sexual health and intimacy. 44% of oncology patients describe a deterioration in their partner relationship and up to 80% showed a decrease in their sexual life. During oncological treatment 84% did not receive any counseling from the oncology staff regarding changes in their sexuality and their relationship.

In response to these results we opened a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for Oncosexology. This presentation will focus on our experiences during the past year from this new clinic. The staff of the outpatient clinic includes a oncology nurse, specialized in sexual counseling, a gynecologist specialized in sex therapy, a social worker specialized in sex and couple therapy and a urologist.

We have given workshops to a group of Testis and a group of Gastrointestinal cancer survivors. We put together a program that consists of Psychosexual support for the patient and partner, providing educational information, emotional support, specific counseling on sexual functioning, assistence to the couple to cope with the physical and anatomical changes, and rebuilding self esteem. We discuss with the couple their fears in resuming sexual activity during and after cancer treatment and we emphasize the importance of good communication between the partners.

Recommendations of running a multidisciplinary Oncosexology clinic will be given.