Normalizing Sexual Health Conversations in Cancer Care
Our Story
After Cancer began with a simple truth that often goes unspoken in cancer care: we are curing cancer, but many patients are left with long-lasting side effects that impact their quality of life. Our founder, Erin Sullivan-Wagner, learned this firsthand during her own cancer journey, navigating intimacy challenges when there was no clear process to address concerns or refer patients to appropriate specialists in a timely way. She soon realized how common these challenges were, and how rarely they were addressed.
Her search for answers grew into a mission. Years of listening to survivors, collaborating with oncology teams, and training as a coach revealed a clear gap: people were navigating sexual health side effects and intimacty challenges on their own. There was a need to raise awareness, develop practical resources, and implement a model of care in which sexual health is addressed as any other quality of life side effect-an essential part of survivorship.
After Cancer was created to close that gap. Today, we partner with oncology care teams to integrate sexual health into cancer care, before, during, and after treatment, without disrupting clinic flow. What began as one person’s experience now fuels a broader commitment to reduce stigma, strengthen education, and ensure sexual health screening and support are a routine part of cancer care.
Bridging the communication gap
Let’s Talk About It
Sexual health is a common concern after cancer, but starting the conversation can feel uncomfortable or the timing is wrong. After Cancer helps care teams know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, without adding time or complexity to clinic visits. We provide the scripts, the language, and the confidence. Our onsite workshops, accredited online courses, and tailored consulting packages offer practical, real-world tools that make sexual health part of routine cancer care. When clinics are equipped with clear communication strategies and patient education materials, silence is replaced with support, and stigma gives way to standard care.
Strengthening Collaborations for Improved Cancer Care
We partner with providers, care teams, educators, researchers, and health system leaders to advance sexual health as a standard part of cancer care. Together, we collaborate on grant-funded initiatives, Quality Improvement projects aligned with Commission on Cancer (CoC) standards, and innovative education and implementation efforts that improve patient outcomes.
Our collaborators contribute in many ways; participating in training and workshops, integrating patient education materials into clinical practice, serving as expert contributors, and helping shape future programming through our thought leader network. Interested in partnering with us on a grant, QI project, or implementation initiative? Let’s work together.
Education, Advocacy, and action
Unifying the Community
As a non-profit organization, After Cancer’s significant impact on the oncology community wouldn’t be possible without its support from donors and grants. After Cancer provides evidence-based education and training required to close the communication gap between providers and patients. After Cancer’s programs are raising awareness, and increasing provider’s knowledge and confidence to normalize the conversation and address sexual health side effects with patients.
GRANTS & FUNDING
Support That Makes the Work Possible
After Cancer partners with organizations seeking grant funding to support training, implementation, or evaluation efforts aligned with funded project goals.
Committed to Patient Care
Board of Directors
Each member of our board plays a vital role in After Cancer’s mission of bridging the communication gap between healthcare providers and patients. Our directors come from diverse backgrounds, including certified medical oncologists, oncology therapists, urologists, and healthcare executives. They work together to normalize conversations around the sexual health side effects of cancer treatment and ensure that patients receive the best care possible.
Board Member
Ken Mitchell
Ken Mitchell, MPAS, PA-C, is a nationally recognized Physician Associate with over 30 years of clinical experience, including nearly three decades specializing in men’s health, male sexual dysfunction, and male infertility. He is the author of the Surgical Impotence Management Strategy (SIMS©) protocol, designed in 2005 to improve patient education and care for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment. Ken is a passionate advocate for men’s health, delivering national and international lectures, leading community outreach, and educating both providers and patients on male sexual health. He has also advanced the role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) through lectures, publications, and his work on the American Urological Association (AUA) Consensus Statement and Update Series on APPs in Urology.
A graduate of Dana College (B.S. Biology) and the University of Nebraska’s Physician Assistant Program (MPAS), Ken is a Fellow of the AAPA and UAPA, an associate member of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America and holds leadership roles with the American Society of Men’s Health. He was inducted into the Pi Alpha Physician Assistant National Honor Society in 2016 and honored as the AUA APP of the Year in 2023 and the POCN Top PA in America in Urology for 2023–2024. Ken is Co-Founder and CEO of GUYnecology® Men’s Health Association, a nonprofit dedicated to provider training, patient education, health promotion, and research.
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Board Member
Lauren Broschak
Lauren Broschak is an oncology-certified, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in sexuality, young adults, and cancer. She received her master’s degree in social work, as well as certificates in sex therapy and sexuality education from the University of Michigan. Lauren works as an oncology therapist and program manager at Inova Life with Cancer in Northern Virginia. In these roles she has led an interdisciplinary team which developed and launched a Survivorship Clinic and survivorship programming at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, offers individual counseling, facilitates support groups, and instructs educational classes for those touched by cancer. She is a co-author of the chapter Intimacy and Sexuality Needs of Children and Adolescents at the End of Life in the book Intimacy and Sexuality During Illness and Loss, published by Hospice Foundation of America in 2020. Lauren has been invited to present on sexuality and cancer for organizations around the country, serves as a Co-Chair for the AOSW Adolescent and Young Adult Special Interest Group, and is honored to be on the Board of Directors for After Cancer.
Sexuality is part of life that everyone experiences in their own unique way, which is often impacted by a cancer diagnosis/treatment and greatly affects quality of life. Yet, sexual health continues to be an issue that is under-addressed in oncology. I am honored to be a part of an initiative working to improve this gap in care and increase the knowledge, comfort, and communication of our oncology providers.
Contact me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-broschak-886267286.
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Board Member
Seanne Falconer
Seanne Falconer is an academic healthcare executive with deep experience in organizational growth and strategic planning for non-profit organizations.
She serves as the executive administrator of the Tulane Cancer Center, an emerging NCI center, translating research discoveries into improved outcomes and reducing cancer burden on the people of New Orleans and beyond. Her role encompasses oversight for basic, translational, clinical, and population science research. Additionally, she is the principal of Falconer Consulting, a boutique advisory firm specializing in non-profit organizational strategy and growth.
Before joining Tulane, Seanne was the Executive Director for Administration of the NCI-designated comprehensive University of California, San Diego – Moores Cancer Center. Prior to that role, she served as the Executive Director and Associate Director for Administration at the NCI-designated comprehensive University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center.
She began her career in academic healthcare at Harvard Medical School as the Chief of Staff of the Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical & Translational Science Center and then as the Director of Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Center Operations. Prior to her career in academic healthcare, she gained experience in accounting and corporate finance with General Mills in Minneapolis, MN.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, with dual majors in accounting and human resources management, a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management, with a concentration in nonprofit management, and a Master of Science in Health Sciences with a focus on clinical operations and healthcare management from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Contact me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seannefalconer/
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Board Member
Cindy Lyness
Cindy Lyness worked in the executive recruiting world for 35 years as the owner of Management Recruiters of Cedar Rapids. Her firm was recognized as a top 10 franchisee for many years and excelled in the financial services and commercial construction sectors.
Cindy has been part of After Cancer from the very beginning, consulting on business strategies to drive sustainability, as well as scaling and transforming the offerings of After Cancer.
Watching Erin through her own cancer journey and the subsequent challenges she faces, as a result of her treatment, has motivated me to play whatever role necessary to bring Erin’s vision to life. Teaching cancer providers to normalize these important conversations with their patients is key to their quality of life and After Cancer provides many of the tools to do just that. I could not be prouder to be by Erin’s side as she continues to transform the topic of sexual health in the oncology sector.
Our end goal is that all facilities treating patients impacted by cancer address sexual health as part of their cancer care. No patient should have to navigate sexual health side effects without anticipatory guidance and support.
Contact me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindylyness/
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Board Member
Dr. Amy Pearlman
Dr Amy Pearlman is a board-certified urologist, specializes in men’s health, particularly focusing on male sexual health, hormonal health, and genital health. Her fervent dedication lies in educating and treating men across the spectrum of cancer diagnosis, aiming not only to minimize side effects but also to optimize sexual well-being.
Having earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Pearlman pursued her urology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. She further honed her expertise through a fellowship at Wake Forest, solidifying her commitment to enhancing men’s health outcomes.
Dr. Pearlman served as the director of the men’s health program at the University of Iowa for nearly five years, during which time she began working with the After Cancer team. She then embarked on a new chapter by co-founding Prime Institute in South Florida alongside her twin sister. Her multifaceted approach to patient care emphasizes evidence-based, engaging, and innovative strategies.
Passionate about empowering individuals through education and support, Dr. Pearlman is honored to serve on the After Cancer board. She firmly believes that everyone undergoing cancer care deserves comprehensive resources to thrive, including optimal sexual health.
Contact me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-pearlman-54a2b0208/
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