Self-Image and Sexuality Issues among Young Women with Breast Cancer: Practical Recommendations

Abstract

Background: Younger breast cancer survivors face a unique set of treatment-related issues that have enormous impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. Although there is often a profound and distressing impact of treatment on self-image and sexual function, women rarely receive any attention for these issues. Unfortunately, most clinicians receive no training on how to inquire about these problems and most clinicians feel unprepared to discuss them. Often this silence is due to a lack of ready resources and uncertainty of appropriate strategies for rehabilitation. Cultural barriers may also contribute to lack of attention to these issues. Objective: The aim of this paper is to not only elucidate common problems regarding self-image and sexual dysfunction, but to also offer concrete guidance about inquiry using a simple checklist approach as well as tips for resources and other evidence-based intervention strategies. Samples of a checklist and resource sheet for women written in Spanish are included, and cultural considerations within a Hispanic/Latina framework will be noted. As the great majority of young breast cancer patients are now becoming long-term survivors, it is essential for clinicians to learn how to address distressing treatment-related late effects including diminished self-image and sexual dysfunction. (REV INVES CLIN. 2017;69:114-22)

Body Image after Breast Cancer Questionnaire: psychometric properties of the Persian version

“…BC survivors have a great sense of vulnerability and loss of control with respect to BC (42). Permanent physical changes induced by BC treatments remind women, particularly the younger ones, of BC and worry them about its recurrence and hence, signi cantly affect their body image (6). They also lose their hope for change in life, have clearer memories of negative life events, and always feel worry about the recurrence of those events (43).…”

“…Moreover, in developed countries, only 7% of BC-a icted women age less than forty, while around 25% of the a icted women in Iran are under forty (4). BC treatments (including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy) are associated with changes in appearance such as breast asymmetry, lymphedema, hair loss, and skin changes (5) as well as functional changes such as impaired sexual function or altered feminine identity (6). These changes may cause concerns over body image (7,8).…”

El Impacto de la Cirugía de Mastectomía en la Satisfacción Sexual en Mujeres con Pareja

“…Para los latinos, el pecho en particular está asociado con la sensualidad y la fertilidad. Hungr et al (2017) realizaron estudios cualitativos de sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama hispanas/latinas. Dichos estudios proporcionan ejemplos claros de cómo, con base en experiencias negativas muy personales de sus senos alterados después del cáncer, las mujeres perciben: (1) una pérdida en el poder femenino y (2) una pérdida en su capacidad para atraer a un compañero y sentirse atractivas (Hungr et al, 2017).…”

Pain Neuroscience Education in cancer survivors with persistent pain: A pilot study

“…During and after their cancer treatment, the cancer patient is faced with many challenges: (a) a new body image; (b) self-image; and (c) waiting on additional diagnostic findings (Hungr et al 2017). The additional burden of persistent pain is an extra stressor to cope with and makes it more difficult for the patient to resume their daily life activities (Kudel et al 2007;Sun et al 2017).…”