Many lung cancer patients have problems with sex and intimacy after their diagnosis, however this issue is often ignored by doctors and researchers, experts have said.

Over 2,200 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed in Ireland every year, making it one of the most common types of cancer here.

Sexual dysfunction is thought to affect at least 40% of patients who undergo treatment, with some estimates reaching the 100% mark. And studies suggest that rather than improving over time, this problem can persist.

When it comes to sexual dysfunction, research in this area has tended to focus on gynaecological cancers, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Little is known about the effect on lung cancer.

This issue was highlighted by French experts at the 4th European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC).

"It's time that doctors and scientists paid more attention to this important issue. We still have to do a lot of work on the awareness of sexual problems after cancer - lung cancer in particular - and we hope that our session at ELCC will help begin the discussion about how best to help this group of patients," they commented.

They noted that when it comes to sexuality, the emotional and physical consequences of lung cancer, as well as the effects of treatment, can all have an impact. For example, following diagnosis, a patient may lose their libido. Feelings of depression can also affect libido, as can the physical changes that result from treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

"Unlike other cancers, where survival is improving, lung cancer management often focuses on short-term quality of life improvement and palliative care. Sexuality is then even more difficult to protect or reconstruct in a short period of time when all efforts are made to stay alive," the experts noted.

They said that in such cases, it is important for patients and doctors to seek advice from healthcare professionals who specialise in sexual health.

However, another important thing to do is to simply talk honestly about this issue.

"We know that sexuality is important for quality of life and marital relationships, yet healthcare professionals frequently avoid taking the sexual history of a cancer patient. Of course this is a difficult subject to deal with, for patients and for healthcare providers, but this should not stop us from doing what we can to improve the situation," they insisted.

They said that talking about this issue from the beginning is important and if difficulties occur, specialised help should be offered in parallel with cancer treatment.

"Whatever the clinical situation, reconstructing sexual function can significantly improve a cancer patient's emotional state. It is an essential step to revive a sense of personal integrity and masculine or female identity," the experts added.