Few women seek help for sexual issues following cancer treatment

WASHINGTON - A survey has found that many women who survive breast and gynecologic cancers want medical help for their sexual issues, but most do not get it.

The poll of hundreds of cancer survivors conducted by the University of Chicago Medical Center confirms that more than 40 percent want medical attention for their sexual health needs.

“Some women have the courage to raise sexual concerns with their doctor, although repeated studies show they prefer the doctor to initiate the discussion,” said Stacy Tessler Lindau, senior author of the study.

Sexual problems in women after treatment for gynecological and breast cancers are well-documented-pain, dryness, loss of desire, difficulty with arousal and orgasm, and changes in body appearance due to treatments.

Cancer survivors often struggle with body-image concerns, and don’t feel attractive or feminine after treatment.

Doctors rarely talk with women about the impact of cancer on their sexuality. Many women also don’t discuss the issues with their spouse or partner.

The researchers surveyed 261 gynecologic and breast cancer patients and collected their medical records data.

The mean age of the participants was 55, with a range of 21 to 88 years. Only seven percent of the patients surveyed had asked for advice or medical help for sexuality problems, but 42 percent were interested in receiving such care.

“Anything that affects the female sexual organs will have repercussions on body image and on a woman’s sex life,” said Emily Hill, lead author of the study.

Women who had been out of cancer treatments for more than a year were significantly more likely to want medical care for sexual concerns than women who were currently in treatment.

And Younger women were more concerned about sexual issues than older women. However, more than 22 percent of women over 65 in the study also said they wanted medical care for their sexual issues.

The study has been published online in the journal Cancer. (ANI)