Onkológia 2/2026

Sexuality in cancer patients

Difficulties in sexual life and sexual dysfunctions are among the common consequences of cancer treatment. Although some effects of treatment on sexual life are short-term, many cancer survivors face long-term side effects. Since sexuality is one of the key factors of quality of life, problems in this area—such as decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, or changes in self-image – have a negative impact on it. Although these issues are well documented and effective approaches to address them exist, many patients and survivors consider sexuality to be a luxury, assuming they should simply be grateful to be alive and not focus on „trivial matters“. They do not feel ready to communicate their difficulties even with their doctors, who themselves may sometimes hesitate to ask questions about sexuality.

Keywords: sexuality, sexual dysfunctions, erectile dysfunction, body image