Let's talk about sex[uality]‐related symptom burden in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Abstract

Let's just put it out there: sex sells. It is a topic that gets a person's attention. Scandalous indiscretions landing in the headlines can both vault and end the careers of public figures. Yet this goes beyond the supermarket tabloid. A study relating to the topic of intimate relationships is likely to get more likes, tweets, and attention in the public eye than an article detailing a newly discovered, dare I say sexy, mutation with therapeutic implications in a given malignancy. But why? Writers and editors, who regularly compose headlines, often allude to the concept that a word like "sex" has a strong emotional anchor. Thus, in a Pavlovian fashion, upon hearing or reading the word, we instantly recall strong emotions that we have associated with the word from past experiences. Perhaps it is the sense of risqu e that comes with breaking the rules of etiquette, censoring, or a taboo while discussing the topic. Or is it the fact that intimacy is an integral part of an individual's emotional and social well-being?Taking a step back, the big picture of well-being is often displaced when the specifics of a cancer diagnosis, such as myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), dominate the clinic visit. After the topics of prognosis, treatments, and survival are covered, little time or energy is left for discussions concerning emotional and social health. However, in patients with chronic illnesses and cancers such as MPNs, the negative impact of an impaired emotional state on their psychological and physical health outcomes is substantial.