The aim of the article is to highlight the need for psychosocial care for cervical cancer patients and their partners and describes ways in which this service can be provided and evaluated. The article describes a particular patient with stage 1b1 cervical cancer, who had previously undergone a Wertheim’s hysterectomy and was advised to have a course of radiotherapy to her pelvis. Although the woman was informed about the likely physical side effects from the radiotherapy, she was not offered any advice regarding the likelihood of developing post-radiotherapy sexual dysfunction. Nor was she given the opportunity to discuss this aspect of her care. The role of the doctor and the nurse is discussed and the question posed as to whether the patient truly provided ‘informed consent’.