According to Lori Brotto, a Canadian psychologist who specializes in sexual health, 80% of women and 60% of men diagnosed with cancer, witness sexual difficulties. Dealing with the diagnosis of cancer, working through treatments and embarking on recovery, mans at the end of the day cancer patients often find they have problems with having sex, problems which if left untreated and impact patients and their relationships significantly.

The diagnosis of breast or gynaecological cancer in women and prostate or testicular cancer in men, results in a loss of sexual desire the direct result of cancer treatments, psychological issues and fear, including even loss of sexual confidence.

Fear of cancer revival leads most cancer patients to an altered sense of self, including a fear of how their partner perceives them, which in turn makes them fear any sexual activity, thus affecting sexual desire.

Dispelling certain myths about sexuality and cancer, such as, sex will bring the cancer back or it will spread it to a healthy partner, Brotto working closely with partners of cancer patients shows them short, sexually explicit films, to proof they are capable of being aroused.

'It's an amazing source of confidence and reassurance. They just need to tune into that,' she says.