Changes in marital and sexual functioning in long‐term survivors and their spouses: Testicular cancer versus hodgkin's disease

Abstract

This study compares the effects of the cancer experience on various aspects of marital and sexual functioning (e.g., communication, emotional support, body image, sexual satisfaction and frequency) for two groups of long‐term cancer survivors (testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease) and their spouses. Comparisons between the two patient groups showed significantly more survivors of Hodgkin's disease than testicular cancer reporting the emergence of special issues and changes in the marital relationship. No differences emerged between the spouse groups on sexual functioning variables; however, spouses of survivors of Hodgkin's disease were more likely than spouses of survivors of testicular cancer to report the development of special issues and communication difficulties. A substantial proportion of both survivor groups disclosed negative changes in body image and sexual frequency. Majorities of both survivors and spouses acknowledged that the illness had drawn them closer together. When representative marital/sexual functioning variables were used to predict Family Environment Scale (FES) scores for survivors and for spouses, changes in the spouse's importance, influence of the illness on the relationship, and changes in sexual frequency emerged as significant predictors. The clinical significance of long‐term changes in marital and sexual functioning for the couple and the need for therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Marital and sexual satisfaction in testicular cancer survivors and their spouses

“…Although attention has been paid to sexual functioning in TCSs themselves, very little research has been done into the sexual satisfaction of their partners. Two reports have been published on sexual functioning, in the same group of 34 TCSs and spouses mentioned above [7,10]. TCSs and their spouses reported a decrease in sexual frequency since the illness and treatment.…”

“…Little research has been done into marital satisfaction of men with cancer and their female partners, and only two studies have addressed this issue in TCSs and their spouses. These two studies [6,10] (on the same group of TCSs and spouses) showed that couples felt the relationship became more tightly bonded and stronger following the confrontation with TC. However, it should be noted that the results were based on a fairly small sample (n=34) and on a group survivors who had completed treatment an average of 4 years prior to the assessment, thus not showing insight into long-term adjustment.…”

Quality of life of survivors of testicular germ cell cancer: a review of the literature

“…Treatment for TC is known to have repercussions on marital functioning [23]. The qualitatively stronger studies reported that most TCSs did not experience a change in the relationship with their partner after their experience with TC [40,41] and that treatment groups did not differ in their responses to questions about changes in the partner relationship since treatment [47].…”

Adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' B and C colorectal cancer has only a minor influence on psychological distress

“…Several studies have measured the acute affective response to the diagnosis of cancer and patients' psycho- logical reactions to relapse [1,5,7,15]. These studies on mixed populations of patients have revealed a prevalence of affective distress varying between 23% and 47%.…”