(110) Characterizing Sexuality and Assessing Predictors of Sexual Satisfaction in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Abstract Introduction There is a paucity of literature documenting cancer-related sexual concerns among patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Despite profound sexual changes being reported in other types of hematological cancer (i.e., lymphoma, leukemia), all types of hematological cancer patients tend to be grouped together, potentially overlooking the unique concerns of patients with MM. Objective This study is the first to characterize sexuality uniquely in the MM population, and to examine predictors of sexual satisfaction for MM, comparatively with participants with other hematological cancer types. Methods We performed a mixed modality self-report survey of patients with hematological cancer, recruiting both in-person and online. Men and women with MM (N=89) and other hematological cancers (N=84) participated in our survey. The survey included demographics and health information, as well as several quantitative sexuality measures including sexual distress, sexual function, sexual flexibility, sexual interest, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction. Results MM survivors exhibited poor sexual function but low sexual distress, and endorsed mid-high scores on measures of sexual interest, sexual flexibility, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction. Results indicate that for MM and other hematological cancer survivors, lower sexual distress and higher sexual communication were associated with higher sexual satisfaction (b = .428, p < .001; b = -.299, p = .001) while sexual flexibility, sexual interest, and sexual function did not explain significant variance in sexual satisfaction. Thematic analysis on open-ended questions indicates that potentially unique to MM, consequences of bone disease (i.e., bone pain, bone fracture, and spinal cord compression) affected sexual expression and resulted in reduced mobility impacting sexual activity, as well as painful sexual experiences, or anxiety relating to sex. Conclusions This study supported the need for sexual health interventions for those diagnosed with MM. Further, it demonstrated that sexual interventions that are used for other hematological cancer patients may be similarly effective for those with MM. Special consideration regarding the impact of bone disease on sexual expression in MM patients should be taken. Disclosure No