Psychosexual functioning in cancer survivorship: What the pediatric oncologist needs to know

Frederick, Natasha N.; Lehmann, Vicky; Ahler, Astrid; Carpenter, Kristen M.; Cherven, Brooke; Klosky, James L.; Nahata, Leena; Quinn, Gwendolyn P.

doi:10.1002/pbc.28437

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(219 reference statements)

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“…2 Physicians can help address this issue by being proactive in addressing the topic. Psychosexual complications in survivorship are addressed in more detail in the special edition article by Fredericks et al 61…”

Section: Fertility-related Psychosocial and Psychosexual Functioningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male pediatric, adolescent, and young adult reproductive survivorship

Burns

Phillips

Brannigan

et al. 2023

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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As pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer survival rates increase, emphasis is placed on reducing late effects, including reproductive complications and potential impact to fertility. Male survivors are at risk of abnormalities in sperm, hormone deficiencies, and sexual dysfunction. This can impact one's progression into puberty and ability to have a biological child and impacts quality of life following treatment. Access to reproductive care is important and requires patient assessment and appropriate referral to reproductive specialists. This review addresses reproductive complications associated with therapy, standard‐of‐care testing, and therapeutic interventions. The psychologic impact on psychosexual functioning is also addressed.

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Section: Fertility-related Psychosocial and Psychosexual Functioningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male pediatric, adolescent, and young adult reproductive survivorship

Burns

Phillips

Brannigan

et al. 2023

Pediatric Blood & Cancer

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show abstract

“… 14 Identifying team members, such as nurses, social workers, psychologists, sexologists, physician assistants, and physical therapists who have the proper experience and skills to communicate about sexual health with AYAs, may improve the likelihood of counselling is offered, and reduce the burden of time from the oncologist. 6 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, in a previous survey, 50% of pediatric oncologists expressed the need for further education on sexual function and gender identity/sexual orientation, and more than 30% reported a need for more education on body image, sexual activity/safe sex practices, and contraception. 6 On the other hand, several studies demonstrated an overall lack of medical knowledge about LGBTQ patient health care and highlighted the need for more education among oncology healthcare providers. 21-24 Improving clinician knowledge on gender identities and sexual orientation and how sexual health needs may differ is an important step in ensuring all conversations are inclusive and may reduce professional discomfort during sexual health communication.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Healthcare Professional Communication on Sexual Health: A Report from the Italian Working Group on Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

et al. 2023

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Background Sexual function is an important concern for adolescent and young adult (AYA) with cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the attitude of Italian health care professionals who deal with AYA patients with cancer toward sexual health communication. Materials and Methods A 11-question survey was developed by the AIOM (Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica) and AIEOP (Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica) AYA workgroup and sent to AIOM and AIEOP members. Results The sample comprised 360 respondents, 54.2% AIEOP and 45.8% AIOM members. Eighty percent were physicians, 14.5% nurses, 4.7% psychologists, and 0.8% other professionals. Medical oncologists are more used to investigate about AYA sexual health than pediatric oncologists (58.2% vs. 46.2%), even if pediatrics more frequently refer patients to specific and shared protocol (40% vs. 26.1%). Both AIOM and AIEOP participants mostly talk about sexual health only on request or occasionally (78.8% and 79%, respectively). Clinician-reported barriers to communication identified in this study are lack of preparation and embarrassment for both the categories, plus the presence/interference of parents for pediatrics and lack of time for medical oncologists. Overall, less than 5% of clinicians in our survey received specific training on potential sexual health issues in AYA patients with cancer and only 2% felt adequately prepared to speak about it. Conclusion Sexual health is a key component of comprehensive care for AYA with cancer during treatments. This study highlighted the need of Italian providers for specific training and guidelines on sex-related health issues encountered by AYA patients.

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Sexual Problems as Late Effects: Awareness and Information Needs Among 1870 Long-term Norwegian Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (The NOR-CAYACS Study)

Holme,

Hollund,

Vandraas

et al. 2024

Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology

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Treatment-related sexual problems are common, but understudied, among survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers (CAYACS). We investigated awareness of, and information needs regarding, sexual problems as late effects in a nation-wide sample of long-term CAYACS.Methods: Five-year survivors were identified by the Cancer Registry of Norway, diagnosed between 1985-2009 with any childhood cancer (aged 0-18 years, excluding CNS tumors), leukemia, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or malignant melanoma (aged 19-39 years). Malignant melanoma survivors treated with local surgery only served as an unmatched reference group. Survivors were mailed a survey including items on awareness and information needs. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses.Results: Of 5361 CAYACS invited, 2104 responded (39%) of which 1870 were eligible for inclusion. In all, 62% were aware of sexual problems as late effects (46% aware only, 16% experienced it) and 31% reported information needs. Of all groups, childhood cancer survivors reported the lowest level of awareness (43% aware, 7% experienced it) and the highest information needs (38%). In multi-variable models, awareness was associated with higher education, shorter time since treatment, more intense treatments, and experiencing hormonal changes and reduced fertility. Information needs were associated with having experienced sexual problems, female gender, higher treatment intensity, chronic fatigue and increased depressive symptoms. Conclusions:A substantial proportion of long-term CAYACS report being unaware of, and have information needs regarding, sexual problems as late effects decades beyond treatment.Addressing such issues during follow-up care is important.

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Psychosexual functioning in cancer survivorship: What the pediatric oncologist needs to know

Cited by 3 publications

References 91 publications

Male pediatric, adolescent, and young adult reproductive survivorship

Male pediatric, adolescent, and young adult reproductive survivorship

Healthcare Professional Communication on Sexual Health: A Report from the Italian Working Group on Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

Sexual Problems as Late Effects: Awareness and Information Needs Among 1870 Long-term Norwegian Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Survivors (The NOR-CAYACS Study)

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