“A Tribe Apart”: Sexuality and Cancer in Adolescence

Abstract

This qualitative study employed hermeneutic phenomenology and narrative inquiry to examine the topic of sexuality and adolescents with cancer from the perspectives of survivors who had experienced cancer as adolescents. This investigation examined the potentially sensitive, disquieting, and often taboo issue of sexuality in the interest of optimizing wellness in young people, and, ultimately, in the health of adults. Understanding the adolescent body as a sensitive, sexual, and developing self can enrich our understanding of adolescent cancer and promote best health care and practices, examining ways that we might mitigate the long-term effects of arrested or delayed development of sexual identity. In this article, we discuss phase 1 of the study, which used hermeneutics as the method of inquiry. Findings included a general experience of adolescents having a sense of "losing themselves" while at the same time finding themselves in a new light. Other findings include the connection between sexuality, self, and identity; the unique "tribe" of adolescents with cancer; the necessity for sexuality to take a backseat to cancer; the changing mirror images from self and others; sexuality and fertility; and, ultimately, that sexuality is a relational experience.

Sexual and romantic challenges among young Danes diagnosed with cancer: Results from a cross‐sectional nationwide questionnaire study

“…Existing research has emphasized the importance of enhancing self‐esteem and positive coping of AYA cancer patients . Our study suggested that talks about intimate matters might be an important key to resilience and self‐efficacy in AYA cancer patients, as dialogues about such issues were significantly associated with the patients' desire to flirt/date/have a partner/have sex (Table ).…”

“…Importantly, AYA patients also reported positive effects of their disease, as cancer may put other life challenges into perspective or prompt the patient to live healthier or more intensively . Approximately 40% of our respondents stated that cancer had affected their romantic partnership in a positive way.…”

“…Young people go through a period of physical and psychosocial changes, and during adolescence and early adulthood, comprehensive renegotiations of identity and interpersonal relations occur. Sexual, emotional, and romantic positioning constitutes an integral part of this individuation‐separation process, and it is well known from research and clinical experience that cancer represents a threat to both biological, psychological, and relational development . During a cancer trajectory, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients may experience fear, sadness, and depression that can decrease their ability to attain age‐appropriate autonomy .…”

“…Further, AYA patients might feel left behind by peers, resulting in diminished social participation. Finally, AYA cancer patients face various degrees of body image disturbances, and treatment‐induced complications and side effects often add to feelings of insecurity and lowered self‐esteem . The same may be true for worries about future fertility …”

“…Not surprisingly, problems concerning self‐confidence and social competencies might negatively influence AYA cancer patients' readiness and ability to engage in romantic relationships or sexual activities, as it has also been described in adult patients . In addition, erotically active AYA patients can experience cancer‐related sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction or anorgasm.…”