Assessing gynecologic and breast cancer survivors' sexual health care needs

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The objective of this study was to identify patterns of interest in receiving care for sexual concerns among women who were survivors of gynecologic and breast cancers. METHODS: Survey and medical records data were collected from June 2008 to March 2009 from 261 gynecologic and breast cancer patients. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of age and months since treatment on interest in receiving sexual healthcare. RESULTS: The mean participant age was 55 years (range, 21-88 years). Only 7% of women had recently sought medical help for sexual issues, yet 41.6% were interested in receiving care. Greater than 30% responded that they would be likely to see a physician to address sexual matters, and 35% of all women were willing to be contacted if a formal program was offered. Compared with older women (aged >65 years), younger women (ages 18-47 years) were significantly more likely to report interest in receiving care to address sexual issues (odds ratio [OR], 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-7.54) and to see a physician to address sexual matters (OR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.51-13.43), and they were more willing to be contacted for a formal program (adjusted OR [AOR], 5.00; 95% CI, 1.63-15.28). Compared with women who were currently in treatment, women who last received treatment >12 months previously were significantly more interested in receiving care (AOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.02-4.01) and were more willing to be contacted (AOR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.18-5.26). CONCLUSIONS: Greater than 40% of survivors expressed interest in receiving sexual healthcare, but few had ever sought such care. The current results indicated that there is an unmet need for attention to sexual concerns among women with gynecologic and breast cancers.

Addressing Sexuality as Standard Care in People with an Upper Limb Deficiency: Taboo or Necessary Topic?

“…The KCAASS consists of 4 scales, i.e. Knowledge (scale range 14-56), Comfort (scale range 18-76), Approach (scale range [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and Attitudes (scale range 4-16). As mentioned above, the questions and scenarios of the original questionnaire, including the KCAASS, were slightly adapted to make them suitable for professionals working with people with an ULD.…”

“…They refer to a lack of time, a lack of knowledge and missing the relevant skills to initiate a conversation about sexuality with their patients as reasons for not addressing sexuality with their patients [6,13,15]. While there is some research on communication about sexuality on professionals working with people with diabetes, cancer or spinal cord injury [16][17][18][19][20], little is known about the specific situation of professionals who work with people with an ULD.…”

Physical Activity and Cancer

“…Most forms of cancer, but particularly cancers of the breast, gynaecologic and genitourinary regions, can result in sexual dysfunction and lack of sexual interest and satisfaction (Hill et al, 2011;Morreale, 2011;Ofman, 1995). Surgery for gynaecologic cancers may involve the removal of parts of the body involved in sexual arousal (Stead, 2003), and chemotherapy in particular often results in fatigue which affects both sexual functioning and interest (Arora et al, 2001).…”

The sexual lives of breast cancer patients: Coping with changes associated with treatment

“…In particular, uterine cancer affects sexual intercourse. [4] Support for the sexual lives of cancer patients is important. Meanwhile, the incidence of breast cancer is higher than that of uterine cancer.…”