INTIMATE PATHWAYS FOUNDATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH
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Mission Statement
"Empowering women to reconnect to their mind, body, & intimate relationship."
About This Cause
Hearing the words “you have cancer” arrives with a heavy gravity. Emotions must be quickly set aside as you and those you love are hurled into action. Testing, consultations, treatment plans, and procedures are communicated using unfamiliar terms. Life’s priorities require a sudden and undesired re-negotiation. Plans, responsibilities, hopes, dreams, and the day to day of life are turned upside down with no time to find steady ground in the now. In the next 12 months over one million women will hear those very words. Oncology care providers adeptly manage the immediate physical side effects of radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, immune suppression, & hormone blocker therapies have on their patients’ bodies. However, beyond the lab values, scan results, and treatment regimens lie the unaddressed emotional, spiritual, relational, and sexual collateral damage caused by cancer and its treatment. Decades of research underscore the short- and long-term impact of oncology care on sexual health, sensation, arousal, function, response, body image, sexual desire, and intimate relationships. Remarkably, most oncology providers have yet to embrace sexual wellness discussions or provide any form of sexual health information, education, intervention, or relational support. Shockingly, 80% of women diagnosed with breast, ovarian, cervical, vaginal, valvar, bladder, or rectal cancers, will experience negative sexual body system impact and collateral damage caused by the very treatments designed to save their life. This collateral damage reverberates beyond the medical realm, profoundly affecting her intimate relationships, wreaking havoc on her self-confidence, body image, and overall well-being. This cascade of challenges creates significant strain and distress within her relationships, impacting not only her but also her partner, family, and broader community. Compounding that challenge,77% of these women will never receive any form of sexual health care, counseling, or education from their oncology team. This is a vastly underserved gap in our oncology care model. Intimate Pathway’s bridges this gap by providing the essential care to women who deserve comprehensive support. By helping a woman reconnect with herself, we facilitate reconnection with her partner, family, and life. Intimate Pathways, under the leadership of co-founder Traci Owen, RN, is a pioneering nonprofit committed to revolutionizing sexual health care for underserved women and their partners affected by cancer and chronic health conditions. Grounded in the mission of "Empowering women to reconnect with their mind, body, & intimate relationship," we offer integrative sexual health care, counseling, education, and advocacy for underserved women and their partners impacted by cancer, chronic health challenges, and life transitions. Recognizing sexual & relational health as fundamental to overall well-being to both the individual and couple, Intimate Pathways addresses this crucial gap in healthcare, providing support for individuals navigating the complexities of cancer treatment. By expanding access to integrative oncology sexual health programs, offering extensive community and healthcare provider education, and fostering mentorship opportunities, Intimate Pathways strives to set a new standard for inclusive and holistic care for underserved women across our nation. Our co-founder, Traci Owen's dedication to initiating conversations around evolving relationship intimacy and sexuality early in the patient's treatment journey has been transformative. This approach alleviates distress, improves the patient/partner's quality of life, and strengthens their relationship throughout the cancer treatment journey and into survivorship. Traci's groundbreaking sexual wellness program, initiated in 2015 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, not only meets but surpasses the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2018 Sexual Wellness guidelines. Intimate Pathways in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma stands out as the sole dedicated Oncology Sexual Health Specialist center in a five-state region. With a board of accomplished community and healthcare leaders, a passionate team, and a clear strategic plan, Intimate Pathways is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of women facing cancer and chronic health challenges. Our commitment to comprehensive sexual health care as an essential component of overall well-being is both inspiring and necessary in the healthcare landscape.