Restoring sex life after cancer

Joan Thomas designed the device

A cancer nurse has designed a device to help female patients who have survived cancer resume a normal sex life.

The Femmax dilator is a plastic device designed to help reduce the risk of scarring after radiotherapy or surgery for gynaecological cancer.

Joan Thomas, the Macmillan nurse specialist, said she got the idea after working with cancer patients at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

She said about 234,000 women in the UK might benefit from the device.

Adhesions

When women have treatment for gynaecological cancers - such as tumours involving the vulva and vagina - they can get scarring.

The sexual needs of such women are often forgotten Dr Anne Szarewski of Cancer Research UK

Dilators inserted into the vagina can help to keep it healthy and supple and to reduce the risk of scarring following radiotherapy or surgery.

The woman can use devices of graduating sizes in the weeks and months after surgery.

In turn, this may help to reduce discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Mrs Thomas, who has been working with cancer patients at the hospital for 18 years, said: "The loss of femininity, sexual desire and body image that women can suffer after radiotherapy or gynaecological surgery is very real and, even for those who are not sexually active, they can find medical examinations uncomfortable."

The plastic device, which will be on sale via the NHS, will be unveiled at the Department of Health in London.

Dr Anne Szarewski, Cancer Research UK clinical consultant, said: "We welcome any innovation which may help women cope with the trauma of cancer treatment.

"The sexual needs of such women are often forgotten, and yet are a very important part of life for many couples."