Breaking the Silence
Breaking the Silence on Cancer and Sexuality: A Handbook for Health Care Providers was published in 2007 by the Oncology Nursing Society.
This book, the first of its kind, was written for health care providers of all kinds - nurses, oncologists, social workers, physiotherapists - to help them get the conversation started with their cancer patients.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part sets the stage by explaining how human beings are sexual, including the anatomy and physiology of sexual functioning. It also gives valuable information about how to conduct a sexual health assessment, something that is not taught at university.
The second section has nine chapters, each describing a different kind of cancer and how the treatment of that cancer affects sexuality. Case studies are provided as well as examples of how to ask patients about their sexual fucntioning and what advice can be given to help the patient and their partner.
The final section provides the health care provider with the tools necessary to help patients including the role of sexuality counseling and research into this important topic.
Breaking the Silence can be purchased on Amazon.com