I am 33 and have been in recovery from nasopharyngeal cancer for over a year. I had to go through extensive chemotherapy and radiation. Now I find I have lost all interest in my sex life. Can this be due to my extensive therapy, or is it just emotional?

Mrs. S.

Your physician should be able to tell you whether your chemotherapy and radiation treatments themselves have a side effect of decreased libido. But I can certainly understand how the emotional AND physical ordeal of your cancer diagnosis and treatment could have dampened your sex drive.

Some of that decrease in sexual interest may be biological -- it makes sense that an organism with a potentially life-threatening illness would NOT be driven to reproduce. Reproductive and sexual energy would probably be conserved and allocated to healing. And I would expect someone in your situation to still be healing both body and soul. As your physical and emotional health return to normal, so, too, should your sex life.

What about participating in a support group for cancer survivors? Your physician may be able to refer you to one. It might help to hear what others have experienced. (Folks in the Better Health community might also be a source of support and encouragement. Try asking for input from other cancer survivors on the message boards or chat sessions.)

If you're worried that your decreased interest in sex is negatively affecting your marriage, please talk that over with your husband. I suspect he's more concerned about your health than in any decrease in sex. If that's not the case, though, perhaps some couples counseling would help you both recover from the impact of your illness. Good luck, and best wishes in your continued physical and emotional recovery.