Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine and Susan G. Komen Memorial will host an evening with Judy Kneece, nurse and author of “Sexuality After Cancer Treatment, the Guide to Restoring Your Sex Life,” at 6 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI), 315 W. Carpenter St., Springfield.

 

SCI, with funding provided by the Memorial Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, is sponsoring the free event. Please call 217-545-7493 to register for the program. Light refreshments will be served.

 

In Kneece’s latest book, readers learn about chemotherapy and other cancer drugs’ effect on sexuality and quality of life. Kneece speaks to the value of nutrition and exercise in combatting hot flashes, night sweats, depression and anxiety.

 

“I felt as though Judy Kneece had read my mind,” said breast cancer survivor Carol Harms of Chatham. Harms attended a presentation featuring Kneece in 2017. “I was a little intimated by the topic at first, but Judy kept the conversation light, but real, for both the survivor and significant other. I walked away feeling a sense of peace and reassurance.” 

 

“Judy’s open and honest presentation style encourages conversation to help reduce or eliminate these side effects,” Susan G. Komen Affiliate Mission Director Gayle King agreed.  “We are honored to help couples begin this difficult, but important, dialogue and offer solutions.”

 

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 268,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Of these, approximately 70 percent will undergo chemotherapy.

 

“These women are left with unexpected changes in their sex life – changes that are not life-threatening but disrupt the quality of their life,” said Kneece. “These changes often go unaddressed; instead, women suffer in silence not knowing what they can do.”

 

Kneece, who has authored seven books including the “Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook,” is the president of EduCare, a breast health navigation and education company. To learn more about Kneece, visit https://educareinc.com/bio_judy.php.