The Impact of Cancer on Marital Relationships
Several specialists participating in a roundtable discussion titled "The Impact of Cancer on Marital Relationships," organized by the Tunisian National Union of Women (UNFT) this Friday, emphasized the importance of family support in the treatment process of women with cancer, particularly psychological and marital support.
Arbia Lahmar, a social worker at the UNFT's guidance and orientation center, indicated that women with cancer, who were interviewed by the Union, reported that their husbands refused to accept the loss of one or both breasts, did not accept the disease, and were unable to continue their marital life. Some of them stated that their husbands left the marital home, returned to their parents' home, or rented a separate house. The husbands may also pressure their wives to accept the idea of a mutual consent divorce or take legal action against them on the pretext that they did not fulfill their marital duties.
Abdelaziz Falfoul, a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, estimated that breast cancer affects not only the patient but the entire family, as family support is crucial in the treatment and recovery process. He emphasized that this boosts the patient's morale and confidence, calling on the family, particularly the spouse, to be understanding and not react negatively to the cancer diagnosis.
He stressed the need to promote a culture of reconciliation with cancer and not consider it a "malignant disease" that discourages patients and classifies them as more exposed to death than others. He also highlighted the importance of early detection, which is the cornerstone of breast cancer prevention.
He specified that Tunisia recently recorded 12,000 cases of female cancers, half of which are breast cancers, noting that female cancers are on the rise, including cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers.
In the face of the increasing number of cancer cases, the specialist called on the state to develop a specific health insurance system for this disease, emphasizing that financial constraints still prevent many patients from completing their treatment.
Cherifa Tlili, a psychiatrist, estimated that the discovery of female cancer represents a psychological shock for many patients, which can lead to dark thoughts or the emergence of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety.
She affirmed that each woman with cancer carries her own experience of the disease, due to several factors, including psychological, social, and material factors.
She emphasized that society's view of women with cancer, whether it is a look of pity or exclusionary discrimination due to the disease, adds to the burden and impact of the disease on them.
She explained that a supportive family that takes care of the woman with cancer at all stages, from diagnosis to chemotherapy or mastectomy, allows the patient to accept the disease and be convinced of the effectiveness of the treatment.
She added that one of the taboo subjects when it comes to breast cancer is the impact of the disease on the sexual relationship between spouses, considering the patient's fragile psychological state and changed perception of her body after the removal or loss of hair. The spouse may also refrain from expressing their sexual desire or distance themselves from their wife due to a feeling of shock, fear, or ignorance about how to treat her after the illness.
She insisted on the importance of awareness, information dissemination, and providing psychological therapy spaces for people with cancer, as well as their close family members, particularly spouses.
