SEXUAL FUNCTIONING AND HEAD AND NECK-CANCER

This pilot study focused on sexual functioning in patients with head a nd neck cancer, a subject that has received only limited attention. Th irty-six patients whose treatment had ended at least one year before t he study completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and two questionnaires dealing with sexual functioning. A relatively high rate of refusal to participate in the study suggested sensitivity and discomfort about di scussing sexual issues. At the same time, more than three-fourths of t he patients who did participate rated their sex life as ''somewhat'' t o ''very important,'' and half reported sexual problems. The findings suggest that sexual functioning is important to patients with head and neck cancer and that the subject should be addressed although the dis ease site does not directly affect sexual organs.