Living with
Cancer can cause many different emotions such as fear and anger. These emotions might affect how you feel about sex. Your partner might also feel very strong emotions.
Changes to your appearance may make you feel less confident about sex. It might change the way you feel about yourself and how you think others see you.
It is very common to have difficulty with intimacy and sex after cancer treatment. You can consider:
talking things through with your partner
talking to your doctor or specialist nurse
getting your GP to refer you to a counsellor
Your doctor or nurse can give some advice or they can suggest where you can find support.
Speech or communication difficulties might affect how you feel about sex. It might feel like more effort than before and it might change some of the spontaneous moments you and your partner are used to.
Eye contact and touch might be alternative ways to show feelings if speech is difficult.
Some people worry that they can catch cancer from others by kissing. But cancer can't be caught from somebody else. So you can reassure them.
It is safe for you and your partner to kiss and have any type of physical contact that you feel comfortable with.
Last reviewed: 17 Sept 2024
Next review due: 17 Sept 2027
Mouth and oropharyngeal cancer develop when abnormal cells in the mouth and oropharynx divide and grow uncontrollably.
Your treatment depends on where in your mouth or oropharynx your cancer is, the type, how big it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health.
Cancer and its treatments can affect sex and sexuality. Get information and support for people with cancer, partners and single people.
There are lots of organisations, support groups, videos and other resources to help you cope with mouth and oropharyngeal cancer and treatment.
Getting practical and emotional support can help you cope with your diagnosis, and life during and after treatment.
Mouth cancer can start in the lips, gums or soft sides of your mouth. The oropharynx is the part of the throat (pharynx) just behind the mouth. Cancer starting in the oropharynx is called oropharyngeal cancer.
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