Cancer and Sexuality sex and relationships - empowering Patients and Health Professionals through Art.

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The presentation to a European audience of 100 delegates provided the opportunity for knowledge exchange on sexual well-being, considered by the World Health Organisation as a basic requirement for quality of life. The highly innovative ComMA research programme was presented at the conference and explained how patients and artists together explored sexual problems encountered following cancer treatment. This novel and highly collaborative approach empowered patients to use art and new forms of artistic expression as an alternative language to express and communicate their feelings of emotional and physical trauma using visual metaphors. ComMA enabled patients to explore and express their feelings through the use of collage and drawing on items such as gowns, which had a deep meaning in the context of their treatment, to enable them to express their feelings and to seek appropriate support. Work co-produced by the artists and patients was shared at the workshop to allow health professionals to understand these issues from a patient’s perspective