Abstract
Longitudinal studies exploring sexuality, body image and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are lacking in patients treated with chemo- or chemoimmuno-therapy for hematologic malignancies. The aim was to describe and explore changes in sexuality, body image and HRQoL in patients treated for hematologic malignancies, from baseline until 6 months after treatment. Twenty patients above 45 years (median age 62) treated for DLBCL, CLL or AML participated. Data were collected at baseline, 1- and 6-months after treatment by means of three instruments: SAQ-S, BIS and EORTC QLQ-C30. The results showed that patients’ sexuality was negatively affected 1 month after treatment, but after 6 months the patient reported scores had returned almost entirely to baseline scores. Body image was slight negatively affected after 1 month and after 6 months, 50 % reported that body image was not affected at all. Regarding HRQoL, patients reported gradually improved scores during the study period. Regression analysis showed that changes in sexuality and body image seemed to influence changes in HRQoL. This study has shown changes in sexuality, body image and HRQoL over time in patients above age 45 treated for hematologic malignancies. One month after treatment all three areas becomes negatively affected, and thereafter the patients’ scores recovered to a great extent regarding these issues within 6 months. Sexuality and body image seem to be important aspects of HRQoL for these patients and need to be integrated in the cancer rehabilitation during and after treatment.
Highlights
In Sweden, about 1400 individuals are diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) every year [1]
The aim was to describe and explore changes in sexuality, body image and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients treated for hematologic malignancies, from baseline until 6 months after treatment
Body image was slight negatively affected after 1 month and after 6 months, 50 % reported that body image was not affected at all
Summary
In Sweden, about 1400 individuals (median age 70 years) are diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) every year [1]. The number of patients being treated and surviving the diseases have increased during the last years. Cancer diagnosis and associated treatments often imply complex and long-lasting physical and psychosocial problems for the individual [2, 3]. There is an increasing need to focus on health related quality of life (HRQoL) issues both during and after treatment. Research in patients treated for various hematologic malignancies shows that HRQoL is most negatively affected at diagnosis, during treatment [3,4,5] and at the initial period after treatment. Thereafter, physical, psychological and emotional well-being gradually improves [3, 5]. The knowledge is scarce regarding in what ways and for how long sexuality is affected in patients treated for hematologic malignancies
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