Can cancer affect sexual life? Sexual concern in cancer patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Sexual concern among patients with breast cancer is an important issue from psychosocial perspectives and it is observed that cancer treatment can cause sexual changes in patients. Some patients experience changes in all stages of the sexual response cycle (desire, arousal, orgasm and decision), while others experience none. The most common sexual change for cancer patients is the general desire loss. Although the reasons for that might be different, the resulting changes are often similar, and they are more related to the psychological aspects of the patients. This study aims to assess sexual concern among breast cancer patients in Malaysia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected through a mixed method. In-depth counseling sessions and a survey for a sample of 46-breast cancer patients from different institutions and hospitals in Malaysia were employed. This article only highlights the survey outcomes. This is due to the requests made by several patients that their views on sexual concerns have not to be transcribed. RESULTS: Sexual depression is common among breast cancer patients. Surprisingly, the participants of this study stated that their sexual concern was fine, and they disagreed with items that sex was painful, not pleasurable or not enjoyable; they even disagreed to avoid sexual intercourse. Furthermore, there was statistically no significant mean difference in the score of sexual concern for Malays and Non-Malays, married and unmarried, as well as for different age groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Reports on patients' sexual needs are not common in the context of Malaysia. Hence, the findings will be an eye-opener for the kind of care that women need, to understanding their problems and to assist them in overcoming issues that concern them. This research adds values to social health and wellbeing in the sense that it becomes an appropriate tool in addressing women's issues and ensuring inclusiveness regarding their emotional, physical, and psychological wellbeing.