Our story

Sex in Cancer was set up by friends, artists and former cancer patients, Joon-Lynn Goh and Brian Lobel, in collaboration with a community of patients, nurses, psychosexual therapists, pleasure activists and sex toy specialists.

They recognised the relative silence from cancer support organisations on issues related to how patients and their partners deal with questions of sex and sexuality.

Sex with Cancer aimed to raise more than just awareness, but to provide practical solutions, peer-led resources, and creative ways to re/discover our bodies and relationships.

When Sex with Cancer launched in 2021, it made headlines around the world for its bold, innovative and nuanced approach to complex questions of pleasure, intimacy and comfort.

Watch this space for more from us in 2025…

Who is it for?

Sex with Cancer is for people living with and beyond cancer, seeking creative solutions to problems caused by cancer.

It’s for anyone feeling shy or embarrassed in front of doctors, put off by medical jargon and warnings, or ill fitted to a story of ‘survival’, where pleasure is of secondary importance.

It’s for anyone desperate for understanding the big picture: how issues like climate catastrophe, histories of colonial violence, patriarchy, classism, racism and ableism all impact our understanding of ourselves, our bodies and our relationships.

Oh, and it’s also for partners, lovers and admirers wanting to up their game – sexually, politically, creatively and supportively.

Why is it needed?

Cancer, and treatments for cancer, often have serious effects on a person’s sex life in direct and indirect ways.

Surgeries can result in body parts being removed, or scars that can take time to get used to. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause exhaustion, weight loss, weight gain, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and heightened infection risks. People with cancer are navigating lots of emotions, traumas and priorities, all of which might make sex less desirable or feasible.

Moreover, there can often be a disconnect between patients and medical professionals. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about sex with their medical teams. At the same time, many professionals may lack the confidence and training to talk about sexual function and pleasure.

Then, there’s a dominant national cancer dialogue that promotes ‘getting back to normal’ (instead of ‘loving a body’s new normal’), not to mention barriers to promoting the use of sex toys, which are not medically tested so cannot be formally recommend by doctors.

All of this leads to overly-medicalised information, scared patients, nervous doctors, and lots of missed opportunities for good sex and meaningful intimacy – with others and yourself.

Sex with Cancer aims to, shall we say, lubricate these difficult conversations by centring patients and their admirers, and drawing on sex-positive professional expertise. We believe information promotes confidence, and confidence is sexy!