Patient-Clinician Communication about Sexual Health in Breast Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Clinic Dialogue

Sexual health is a major concern for women living with breast cancer [1,2]. At least half of women with breast cancer report sexual problems, and these problems tend to persist over time even after other clinical issues resolve, leading to the potential for long-term negative consequences for individual and relationship well-being [3 –6]. Sexual problems that women experience after a breast cancer diagnosis can occur throughout the cancer trajectory and across different stages of disease [7–9]. As examples, women who are currently undergoing chemotherapy may avoid sexual activity due to concerns that it is not safe, women wh o are post-surgery may encounter negative feelings as they adjust to changes in the appearance of their breasts [10], and women who have completed their curative treatments (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation) may experience difficulties in resuming a sexual relationship due to longer-term sexual side effects such as loss of interest in sex and vaginal dryness related to chemotherapy-induced menopause and/or hormonal therapy use [11].
Source: Patient Education and Counseling - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research