Cancer-related surgeries can save or extend life—but they may also alter parts of the body that are closely tied to sensuality, pleasure, identity, or self-expression. These changes can be physical (like pain or nerve damage), emotional (like body grief), and relational (like feeling distant from a partner or pleasure). Whether the surgery is reconstructive, life-saving, or preventative, the ripple effects on sexuality are real and valid.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, but it can also affect surrounding healthy tissue—especially in the pelvic region. When directed near reproductive or sexual organs, it may lead to physical changes that affect comfort, function, and desire. Even when radiation is to other areas of the body, systemic effects like fatigue and skin sensitivity can still impact intimacy.