Ralph and Barbara Alterowitz experienced firsthand the sexual side effects of Ralph’s prostate cancer treatment in 1995. Determined to understand this important quality-of-life issue—one that affects so many couples—they immersed themselves in research and began sharing their insights with patients and support groups across the country. After repeated requests to “please write it down,” they authored The Lovin’ Ain’t Over – The Couple’s Guide to Better Sex after Prostate Disease, followed by its updated edition, Intimacy with Impotence – The Couple’s Guide to Better Sex after Prostate Disease. They also contributed a chapter on “Sexual Rehabilitation After Cancer” to the professional reference Sexual Health, and published numerous articles on intimacy after cancer. Most recently, they released The Lovin’ Ain’t Over for Women with Cancer.
Sadly, Ralph has since left this earth and is no longer with us. His compassion, curiosity, and commitment to helping others continue to live on through the work he and Barbara created together.
Barbara remains active in this mission. She is a sexuality counselor certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and the founder of the Center for Intimacy After Cancer Therapy, Inc. (CIACT, Inc.). She continues to educate patients, partners, and medical professionals about the sexual effects of cancer treatments, offering counseling in person and via telephone or Zoom.
Barbara and Ralph shared more than 30 years of marriage, including 20+ years “post-cancer.” Together, they walked the talk
Board Members
Arthur Burnett, M.D., Director of the Men’s Sexual Health Clinic, Professor of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution. Co-author, Prostate Cancer Patients Speak
Woet Gianotten, M.D., Psychotherapist, Rehabilitation sexologist; Rehabilitation Centre De Trappenberg, Huizen, The Netherlands. Visiting professor (annually) Oxford Course for Sexual Medicine. Numerous publications
Michael Krychman, M.D., Medical director of Sexual Medicine and the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, California. He formerly served as Co-Director of Sexual Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Associate Professor at Cornell Medical School in New York City. Co-author, 100 Questions & Answers About Life After Breast Cancer Sensuality, Sexuality, Intimacy
Annette Owens, M.D., Ph.D., Certified Sexuality Counselor, Director, Charlottesville Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of The Sexual Health Network. Editor, Sexual Health four volumes
Anita Solomon, Ph.D., Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, Diplomate in Clinical Pharmacology, Member of Governor’s Task Force
Rabbi Edgar Weinsberg, Ed.D., D.D.,
Edgar Weinsberg of Sarasota, Florida, is an ordained rabbi, gerontologist and healthcare educator. After his successful robotic surgery for prostate cancer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in April, 2007, he was moved to share his and others’ experiences by writing the book Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life. He wrote the book with his contributing author, Dr. Robert Carey, a urologist and a leading robotic surgeon.
His book received the 2009 Nautilus Silver Book Award for its innovative approach to health and healing. This competitive award recognizes new leading-edge books that underscore conscious living and positive social change, combining new ideas with religion or spirituality. The book also received two 2009 Indie Excellence Book Awards, as the winner in the men’s issues category and a finalist in the health category. In addition it was a 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist in the category of health. These awards designate the best new books published by independent publishers and authors.