SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN TREATED BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

Background: This study examined the impact of breast cancer therapy on women's sexuality. Patients and methods: A questionnaire concerning v arious sexual problems experienced before and after treatment was anon ymously completed by 50 women in the outpatient clinic of our hospital 's Division of Radiation Oncology. To be eligible, subjects had to be disease-free and sexually active. They also had to have undergone surg ery at least one year previously and have completed CT and/or RT. Fift y-eight percent of the women involved had undergone mastectomy and 42% had undergone quadrantectomy followed by RT. Results: Ninety percent of the subjects continued sexual activity after treatment, but there w as an increase in the incidence of sexual problems which resulted in a slight reduction in the quality of their sex lives. Sixty-four percen t of the women experienced an absence of sexual desire and 48% low sex ual desire, while 38% had dyspareunia, 44% frigidity and 42% lubricati on problems. Vaginismus, brief intercourse and female orgasmic disorde r were reported by 30% of the subjects. Thirty-six percent suffered fr om sexual dysfunction before treatment, which worsened in about 27%, w hile in 49% of women sexual problems arose mainly after chemotherapy ( 26%) or surgery (12%). About one-half experienced changes in the relat ionship with their partner. Conclusion: Breast cancer patients experie nced sexual dysfunction; ours found it easier to discuss the problems with their partner during their illness (62%) than with doctors and ps ychologists (15%).