Erin Sullivan Wagner
Executive Director of After Cancer
After Cancer is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advocacy of men and women who have sexual health issues during cancer. The most difficult part of having a sexual health conversation is initiating it. After Cancer will teach you to normalize that conversation.
Thanks to life-saving advances in treatments and technology, cancer survivorship is front and center. More than 50% of all patients will experience sexual health side effects from their cancer or its treatment, yet these issues are rarely addressed.
We need to change that!
After Cancer provides educational resources for healthcare professionals on addressing sexual health in patients impacted by cancer. Our courses, workshops, and conferences will provide the tools needed for Advanced Practice Providers and patient care team members to address sexual side effects with their patients before, during and after cancer treatment. Our library of educational materials assists patients in navigating the challenges related to sexual health and intimacy. We need to close the communication gap, address this unmet need, and improve patient outcomes related to quality of life.
The organization started as a resource for patient coaching. But it soon became obvious that there was also an overwhelming need for provider education. A collaboration started with clinicians and experts across the country, with a common goal to raise the awareness of oncology healthcare providers about sexual health issues of patients.
Through grants from the Iowa Cancer Consortium, After Cancer created the All of Me Project training program for Advanced Practice Providers, nurses, social workers. and members of the patient care team. We offer an accredited online Sexual Health Specialist course for APPs, workshops on Normalizing the Conversation with a 30-Second Message, patient handouts, and in-person training.
After Cancer also offers a wide range of customized public speaking services featuring Erin Sullivan Wagner, the Executive Director of After Cancer.
We have a vision for the future that all people impacted by cancer will be screened for sexual health issues as a regular ongoing standard of care.
Cancer survival rates are increasing every year, and so are the number of survivors left to face the sexual health side effects their cancer caused. We need to change that.
In preparation for the cancer treatments, Erin’s medical team reviewed potential side effects with her. They said the treatment would burn her skin, make her sick, and cause pain. However, they did not mention any long-term side effects. Though sexual dysfunction was listed as a possible side effect of the radiation, doctors assured her that it wouldn’t be a problem because she was young, healthy, and sexually active.
Her treatment left her with long-term sexual dysfunction she wasn’t prepared for. Her side effects included vaginal atrophy and the drying, thinning, shortening, and scarring of the vaginal tissues. Because these side effects were not addressed until 5 months after cancer treatment, penetrative sex would never be possible.
Though her sexual health was negatively impacted, surviving cancer provided Erin with an opportunity to advocate for patients by raising awareness and educating the oncology community on how to address sexual health side effects as a standard of care after the diagnosis. By sharing her personal journey, she is reducing the stigma related to discussing sexual health in a cancer care setting.
Erin made a life-long commitment to help cancer patients and provide the support she never received. Following her life coach training and through conversations with patients, she learned how common sexual health issues are and how seldom they are addressed by their care teams.
APP Sexual Health Specialist Training Program
The Sexual Health Specialist training course for Advanced Practice Providers is designed to empower APPs to address and screen for sexual health side effects caused by cancer or its treatment. This course will provide the communications skills needed to normalize the conversation, gather patient information, set expectations, evaluate common concerns, treat what’s possible, and refer to other specialists timely. The 14.25-hour accredited course also provides a library of educational handouts for your patients to assist in navigating the challenges related to intimacy. To provide all-encompassing care for your patients, select “Begin Your Journey” to enroll in the Sexual Health Specialist course, or select “Request More Information” to receive a call about additional After Cancer Services.
Begin Your Journey
Request More Information
30-Second Message Workshop
The 30-second message workshop provides instruction on how to initiate the conversation on sexual health side effects following cancer treatment. We use oncology scenarios and interactive role play with simulated patients to practice the 30-second message, respond to patients, and transition from the conversation. This program prepares care providers to deliver a 30-second message addressing sexual health issues. In this workshop, attendees will practice both the delivery of the message, patient responses, and the use of the All of Me brochure to set patient expectations. The All of Me patient brochure will be used as a communication aid to deliver the 30-second message and as a take-home resource for your patients.
Get Started
4 Hour Workshop
The 4-hour accredited workshop teaches care teams about common sexual health issues and the psycho-social impact following cancer treatment. In addition to delivering a 30-second message to patients, this program reviews National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidance, American Society of Clinical Oncology interventions, and best practices from sexual health experts. Create a referral roadmap, understand the importance of referring patients timely, and provide patients with the support they need.
Get Started
Let’s Inspire Change
With over a decade of experience in publicly addressing sexual health in cancer patients, Erin Sullivan-Wagner is available for keynote presentations or breakout workshops. With a comprehensive knowledge of the provider and patient side, her speaking topics are customized to your group’s specific needs. Knowledgeable and passionate, Erin’s dynamic messaging keeps audiences engaged and active while educating the importance of normalizing the conversation, setting expectations, and referring timely.
Book a Speaking Engagement
Leave a Reply