Abstract P6-12-22: Sexual health in long-term breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Background Significant sexual dysfunction is reported in women with breast cancer (BC) in the years following diagnosis. It is unclear whether symptoms persist over time in BC survivors (BCS) as long-term data compared to healthy controls is lacking. We compared sexual functioning in long-term BCS to controls and explored the impact of adjuvant therapy on sexual health. Methods A cohort of women with localized BC recruited from 1989 to 1996 was prospectively followed as previously described. BCS without recurrence and controls without BC were contacted between 2005 and 2007 and answered self-reported quality of life questionnaires. Sexual health was measured with the Sexual Activity Questionnaire (SAQ). Vasomotor, gynecological and bladder symptoms were scored using the Menopausal Symptom Scale (scale ranges 0-4) based on the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist. Regression analysis was used to compare groups, with and without adjustment for age (quadratic) and menopausal status. P values <0.05 were considered significant. Results 248 of 285 BCS and 159 of 167 controls completed the SAQ. The median time from diagnosis of BCS was 12.5 years. BCS were slightly older (61.9 vs 59.1 years, p=0.0004) and somewhat more likely to be post-menopausal (94.4 vs 85.5%, p=0.0025) than controls. Overall, fewer BCS were sexually active than controls (45.2 vs 59.7%, p=0.0041). This difference was no longer significant when adjusted for age and menopausal status (odds ratio 0.68, p=0.075). In those sexually active, no significant differences were noted on the SAQ Pleasure and Discomfort scales.Differences in adjuvant treatment were not significantly associated with being sexually active or the SAQ subscales. BCS scored higher (worse) on the gynecological and bladder symptom scale than controls (0.66 vs 0.43, p=0.0036, adjusted difference 0.24, p=0.0029; 0.60 vs 0.41, p=0.02, adjusted difference 0.18, p=0.029 respectively), but no difference was seen in vasomotor scores. Gynecological symptom scores were greatest in BCS who received adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion Despite more frequent long-term gynecological and bladder symptoms, sexual health is similar in BCS and controls. Adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with persistent gynecological symptoms and interventions aimed at improving these could improve quality of life. Citation Format: Soldera SV, Ennis M, Lohmann AE, Goodwin PJ. Sexual health in long-term breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-12-22.