Dec 3rd Chat – Let’s Talk About Sex

Blog post by Lisa Fields

Recently I viewed the presentation Patient Reported Outcomes Data in Action Dame Cicely Saunders International Seminar given by Amy Abernethy, MD PhD. I was struck by Dr. Abernethy’s  words.

Sexual distress is one of the top five concerns in our oncology clinics as well as in our palliative care patients.

Shortly after I saw Dr. Abernethy’s presentation I saw tweets from @drdonsdizon. His twitter bio shares:

Dr. Dizon is a specialist in medical gynecologic oncology with Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Dizon’s awards, honors, publications and recognitions are vast and remarkable. https://rem/pub/don-dizon-md?show_more=true#lectures

Later this fall I watched and shared a few tweets with Dr. Dizon and others during the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. During the conference Dr. Dizon presented his talk Intimacy and Sexuality. The tweets shared both by those in attendance and those of us who were watching were transparent and enlightening.

Here is a link to Dr. Dizon’s amazing and inspiring post “Pragmatism, Realism and Optimism” via ASCO Connection.

We’re honored Dr. Dizon will be our guest for our chat. Our sexuality and need for intimacy are basic human desires. Our hope is that by discussing this topic for those impacted by cancer, their intimate partners, the clinicians and healthcare leaders who serve them we can increase awareness, empathy and professional development. Indeed our sexuality and desire for intimacy doesn’t simply go away when there’s a diagnosis of cancer so as the song says “lets talk about sex.”

• T1: Sexual health & Cancer, when is the “right time” to talk about it? When one first begins a doctor-patient relationship or later?
• T2: What can we do to increase awareness among healthcare providers about the importance of sex and intimacy to people with cancer?
• T3: How does the approach: talking sex & intimacy differ among patients? Gays vs. straight people? Older vs.younger? Single vs. coupled?
• Closing Thought=CT: What’s one thing you’ve learned tonight that you can take to your place of influence to help a patient tomorrow?

Please join us Tuesday December 3rd at 8:30pm Eastern Time (North America) for our weekly #HCLDR chat with Dr. Dizon as our guest.

Resources

1.“Pragmatism, Realism and Optimism” Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, ASCO Connection, Oct 7, 2013. Accessed Dec 2, 2013.

2.Dizon, Don S (@drdonsdizon). “Don’t ask “Why Me?” Ask “What’s Next.” Pres Shirley Mertz Opening the #MBCNConf #mBCSM #bcsm.” 21 Sept 2013, 10:50am. Tweet.

3. Schoger, Jody M (@jodyms). “ “Each breath we take is a testament to living, not dying.” – survivor Doris Ann Fisher #MBCNConf.” 21 Sept 2013, 12:28pm. Tweet.

4. Schoger, Jody M (@jodyms). “How long will I put up with treatment? No one else has to walk in your shoes? That is pragmatic. #MBCNConf.” 21 Sept 2013, 1:23pm. Tweet.

5. He L, Teng Y, Jin B, et al. BMC Cancer. 2010;10:681. PMID: 21156055.

Photo Credit

We are honored Mr. Angelo Merendino gave us permission to post this photo of he and his late wife Jennifer Merendion. She passed at the age of 40 from metastatic breast cancer. Angelo lovingly documented her illness with his photographs. We encourage you to visit his website The Battle we didn’t choose: My wife’s fight with breast cancer

Tags: cancer, communication, conversation, doctors, healing, listening, patient experience, patients, social media