Cultural and social influences on women’s experiences of sex and intimacy after cancer: ‘I just think romance looks different’

Little is known about the influence of culture or membership of a minoritised group, on the sexual health of women with cancer. The goal of this study was to explore sexual health and relationship experiences of diverse women cancer survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven partnered women surviving cancer who self-identified as members of a minoritised group, including sexual minorities, immigrants, and women of colour, with ages ranging from 28 to 64 years. Just over half the participants had had breast cancer (<i>n</i> = 7; 63%). Data were subjected to interpretive thematic analysis. Themes and subthemes are developed under four main headings: 1) sexual influencers prior to cancer experience; 2) impacts of diagnosis and treatment on relationships, sex and sexuality; 3) bodily impacts after cancer treatment; and 4) survivors and partners navigating discussions of sex. Perceptions and behaviours related to sexual health and intimacy were influenced by family, religion, culture, and social structures among women surviving cancer. Sexual health is an integral part of cancer survivorship care and because of this, services should be tailored to meet the sexual health needs of diverse women.