Abstract
ABSTRACT As the number of breast cancer survivors increases, these patients with sexual problems also increase. For breast cancer survivors, sexual problems are a common and painful experience. Although breast cancer survivors often encounter sexual problems, Taiwanese women are culturally conservative and patients rarely discuss sex problems with clinicians. In this study, we used qualitative methods to better understand the changes in sexual life and related care strategies for breast cancer survivors. Twenty interviews were conducted on clinical patients enrolled in hospitals that received breast cancer treatment. The data were analysed by performing a constant comparative analysis. Three themes emerged: the causes of changes in sexual life, internal response strategies and external response strategies. Ten subthemes were identified. Changes in sexual life in patients with breast cancer in this study included changes related to body image, influence of friends and family, age, genital problems, and illegal love of a partner. Breast cancer survivors can tolerate and regulate sexual life changes by adopting internal and external response strategies. Medical staff must be sensitive and must understand strategies for dealing with sexual life changes that may occur during cancer adjustment and how these strategies can help women’s well-being in the rest of their lives.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common prevalent cancer for women in Taiwan (Ministry of Health and Welfare EY, Taipei, Taiwan, 2017)
Related studies have indicated that 41% of sexually active patients develop sexual function deterioration after breast cancer treatment (Alicikus et al, 2009)
Sexual problems lead to serious emotional distress, including problems related to negative body image, anxiety, and depression (Boswell & Dizon, 2015)
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common prevalent cancer for women in Taiwan (Ministry of Health and Welfare EY, Taipei, Taiwan, 2017). Related studies have indicated that 41% of sexually active patients develop sexual function deterioration after breast cancer treatment (Alicikus et al, 2009). This is mainly due to loss of libido (80%), loss of interest in partners (54%) and sexual dissatisfaction (59%) (Alicikus et al, 2009). Current mainstream treatments for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy. In one study of patient experiences with sex issue, approximately 76% of the breast cancer participants confirmed that they have not ever asked medical staffs about problems with sex activities (Flynn et al, 2012). Medical staffs need to understand the extent of physical and psychological problems that may occur at each stage of cancer and during long-term follow-up so that appropriate support and assistance can be provided
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