“I would love to tell all husbands whose wives suffer from pain during sexual intercourse after cancer treatment to support their choices. Their life will soon return—perhaps even better—to what they knew before cancer.”
Angeliki reclaimed her quality of life with optimism and courage, relying on her own strength but also on her connection with her husband. Together, they embarked on this “therapeutic” journey and rediscovered joy and satisfaction in their intimate life.
The issue of sexual dysfunction stemmed from dryness and dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) that Angeliki experienced as a consequence of cancer treatment.
“The problem of pain during intimacy arose after the completion of cancer treatment. While the treatments were ongoing, Angeliki was exhausted. When she started feeling better, we realized that sexual intercourse was impossible due to severe pain and dryness. At first, my only concern was her illness—I just wanted her to overcome it. When Angeliki felt ready to be intimate again, I understood how crucial our sexual life was for the quality of life that every cancer survivor seeks.”
Angeliki began treatment at the physiotherapy center PT PRAXIS® and immediately embraced pelvic floor physical therapy. She also used specialized vaginal dilators in combination with targeted neuro-muscular relaxation exercises for the pelvic floor. The combined use of dilators with proper muscle retraining exercises accelerated her recovery and played a significant role in her progress.
“The results of physiotherapy in alleviating the pain and dryness caused by cancer treatment were astonishingly fast. Honestly, neither Angeliki nor I expected the pain to be resolved so quickly and for her condition to improve so dramatically. Not only were we able to be intimate again, but we also couldn’t believe how good we both felt.”
Angeliki was very consistent with her therapy. She followed the pelvic floor exercises diligently and continued to use vaginal dilators to improve her condition and eliminate pain. This significantly reduced her anxiety, helped her relax, and made her feel positive and optimistic.
“There is no reason for any woman to struggle to communicate with her husband about the treatment she needs to follow. What a woman who has survived cancer—having undergone surgeries, chemotherapy, or radiation—goes through is incredibly challenging. Equally challenging is reclaiming her quality of life after all this. She must be supported in this effort, first and foremost, by her partner.”
