New evidence suggests that there is an unmet need for sexual health support for women going through cancer treatment.
Seventy seven percent of women feel their oncologist should discuss sexual health and 74 percent prefer information prior to treatment, according to a new study, presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the largest cancer conference in the world.
Read MoreWhen asked to identify desired resources 82 percent wanted helpful products/strategies. 65 percent of women wanted written educational material, while 68 percent wanted medications and lubricants. 37 percent of women desired personal counseling, and 41 percent of women wanted a sex therapist. 36 percent of patients said that local/web-based support groups were desirable as well.
Participants included 128 women who were diagnosed at age 35.6 on average. The women in the study were: married (71%), breast cancer (46%), mastectomy (40%), hysterectomy (30%), chemotherapy (81%), radiation (51%) and completed treatment (67%).
SurvivorNet medical advisor Dr. Elizabeth Comen, Medical Oncologist Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centeran who treats women with breast cancer, has told SurvivorNet in the past that even though it may be an uncomfortable topic, it's a really important one.
“Sexuality is incredibly intertwined with how people feel emotionally, at least for women. I can vouch for that,” said Dr. Comen. “Just going through something so traumatic can really affect a woman’s libido and how she feels about herself.”
According to Dr. Comen, part of the problem is that contraceptives women are used to may not be a good option while being treated for breast cancer. “You cannot be on birth control pills while being treated for breast cancer, because there’s extra hormones that are being added to the body and we know that, again, at least 60% of breast cancers are driven by the hormone estrogen. So we try not to introduce extra hormones into a woman’s body.”
As a result, doctors can help patients try other contraceptives. “We like to address with patients other options such as barrier protection with condoms. Sometimes we recommend a copper IUD that does not have any hormones.”
She also understood why for some women, written sexual health materials are key. “There can be issues with lubrication that women may or may not feel comfortable talking about, but we have handouts, we’ve got locations for them to go to to get things that they might need.”
But the most important thing, according to Dr. Comen, is that women feel comfortable speaking up and addressing any sexual health concerns with their doctors. “Just the other day, I had a patient say to me, you know, she’s so afraid to have sex with her husband during chemotherapy, and I am thrilled that she asked me that because we should be able to address whatever needs patients have so that they feel like, to the best of their ability, they can get on with their life, continue with their life, and have the best quality of life,” said Dr. Comen.
Researchers employed what’s called a “mixed-method design” to identify women's need for sexual health support after diagnosis. A mixed method design is involves collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative (experiments, surveys) and qualitative (focus groups, interviews) data. Researched assessed the data to identify the factors of sexual health, as well as the most prevalent support needs.
And asked to describe their experience with sexual health women reported the following themes: supportive partners, sexual health status, guilt, stolen identity, loss of desire, isolation, treatment side effects, menopause, vaginal changes, maintaining relationships, coping mechanisms, fertility, self-image, grief, intimacy, and desire for oncologist support.
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