When I was diagnosed with cancer at 30, I was shocked. Isn't cancer something that's supposed to happen when you're older? At least not until your 40s or 50s? But then I stopped for a minute, looked around, and realized that four of my friends -- all in their twenties and thirties, mind you -- had already had cancer. Four. No matter your age, cancer affects nearly all of us in one way or another. And depending on the treatment, it can affect everything from desire to employment to relationships to emotional health, and so on, ad infinitum.
This month, with every sale of a Pink October toy, Babeland is donating 10% of its sale to the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to supporting young women living with breast cancer. I can't tell you how grateful I am that an organization like this exists, and that they're doing such important and tireless work. Check them out, please! And while you're at it, check out our How-To article for women dealing with post-cancer sexuality.
Traditionally, there hasn't been a lot of attention paid to women's sexuality following cancer diagnosis and treatment -- many doctors don't even discuss possible sexual and reproductive side effects of treatment with their patients. I have my theories about why this is, and one is that we still have an outdated notion that only older people get cancer, making post-cancer sexuality an afterthought. After all, we're taught that sex is for the young(-ish), and that older women should gracefully tuck away their libidos and sublimate all that energy into embroidery and cross-stitch. Not only is that a ridiculous notion -- for so many women, sex only gets better with age! -- but it leaves out the countless young survivors who are left wondering how to find community, and how to deal with the issues that arise around cancer and their sexuality.
I welcome you to use the comments to tell a story about how cancer has affected you, sexually or otherwise. Share concerns or inspirations, ask questions... the intersection of cancer and sexuality is a reality of many lives, and it's time for us to talk about it!
This month, with every sale of a Pink October toy, Babeland is donating 10% of its sale to the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to supporting young women living with breast cancer. I can't tell you how grateful I am that an organization like this exists, and that they're doing such important and tireless work. Check them out, please! And while you're at it, check out our How-To article for women dealing with post-cancer sexuality.
Traditionally, there hasn't been a lot of attention paid to women's sexuality following cancer diagnosis and treatment -- many doctors don't even discuss possible sexual and reproductive side effects of treatment with their patients. I have my theories about why this is, and one is that we still have an outdated notion that only older people get cancer, making post-cancer sexuality an afterthought. After all, we're taught that sex is for the young(-ish), and that older women should gracefully tuck away their libidos and sublimate all that energy into embroidery and cross-stitch. Not only is that a ridiculous notion -- for so many women, sex only gets better with age! -- but it leaves out the countless young survivors who are left wondering how to find community, and how to deal with the issues that arise around cancer and their sexuality.
I welcome you to use the comments to tell a story about how cancer has affected you, sexually or otherwise. Share concerns or inspirations, ask questions... the intersection of cancer and sexuality is a reality of many lives, and it's time for us to talk about it!
