Intimacy and sexual life living with colorectal cancer

@bug3, I'm glad that your cancer is gone, but I'm sorry you were not told about the possible effects of the radiation on your bowel's health and that it is not in good shape. You didn't have surgery? only radiation?

Almost two years after radiation, I have a rather normal sex life. Because of my low anterior resection, it can sometimes be tricky: avoiding putting much pressure on the back wall of the vagina, avoiding having his penis even touch my anus, and sometimes interrupting--most often more than once--for me to go to the bathroom. In spite of these "complications", I'm enjoying the renewed intimacy and glad for it!

I hope that one day soon, you'll regain your sexual intimacy too.

Sending a hug.

I was diagnosed with anal cancer likely from HPV they said. One spouse of 50 yrs, so don't really know if I truly had cancer. Anyhow that about 25 days of targeted radiation and that radiation has totally messed up my bowels health. No one ever told me that could happen beforehand. Two years later, my bowels are no better although they stated the stage 2 cancer is gone! There is no intimacy at all nor envisioned in the future. Anyhow, I sincerely hope you have a better outcome. I don't understand why my oncologist or any team member did not prepare me for the possibility of the potential results! Hang in there and maybe and regain intimacy.

These are very viable concerns especially in a world where too much emphasis is on outer beauty. As a senior woman I have had many issues with my body and how I see myself, naturally I’m not impressed with what I see so how can anyone else find me attractive. We are really very fragile beings and illness of any kind can have serious effects on our bodies and minds. I truly believe that when you really love someone heart and soul you don’t see the changes in a negative way, love is powerful and can overcome so many things. We must learn to accept ourselves and be grateful that we’re alive because it’s a blessing from above, outer beauty is transient and inner beauty is forever. I have a very dear friend who is very disabled but in my eyes she’s a beautiful person who recently found love with someone who is paralyzed from the neck down, she shares stories with me about how much she loves him and I am so happy that in her eyes he is perfect.

These are very viable concerns especially in a world where too much emphasis is on outer beauty. As a senior woman I have had many issues with my body and how I see myself, naturally I’m not impressed with what I see so how can anyone else find me attractive. We are really very fragile beings and illness of any kind can have serious effects on our bodies and minds. I truly believe that when you really love someone heart and soul you don’t see the changes in a negative way, love is powerful and can overcome so many things. We must learn to accept ourselves and be grateful that we’re alive because it’s a blessing from above, outer beauty is transient and inner beauty is forever. I have a very dear friend who is very disabled but in my eyes she’s a beautiful person who recently found love with someone who is paralyzed from the neck down, she shares stories with me about how much she loves him and I am so happy that in her eyes he is perfect.

Estoy de acuerdo con su comentario,cada quien lo ve a su manera, pero pienso que si puede haber actividad sexual, en caso como los que mencionas, dependerá de cada quien.

I certainly appreciate all this well written information. I won't know the staging until my imaging and Pet Scan. It will be May 14th so I am sitting here pondering the outcomes, and yes, the suffering too. I just met a beautiful man who thinks enough of me to go through this with me. I told him I don't have all the information. I am going to wait until I speak with the radiation and oncology Doctors what will be left of me to offer in sensuality. Then let my new partner know so he can make an informed decision to opt out. This is not for every one and we are not living together. And the uncertainty of the unknown. But at my age, that is already uncertain so I'm not dwelling on if I'm going to die, but how long to live and live I will. I just hope I can still have a partner. Wish me luck on this.

Your story is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing in depth your personal life.
I wish the best for you.