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Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Reese, JB; Shelby, RA; Keefe, FJ; Porter, LS; Abernethy, AP
Published in: Support Care Cancer
September 2010

PURPOSE: Although sexual concerns have been examined in breast cancer (BC), these concerns remain understudied and undertreated for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Objectives were to: (1) assess sexual concerns in GI cancer patients compared with breast cancer patients; (2) examine whether sexual concerns are stable over time in GI and breast cancer patients; and (3) evaluate whether sexual concerns in GI and breast cancer are significantly associated with quality of life, symptom severity, and disease interference, and whether these associations change over time. METHODS: Data were collected from GI and breast cancer patients during four outpatient clinic visits over 6 months. Measures included sexual concerns (reduced sexual enjoyment, interest, or performance), quality of life (FACT-G), symptom severity, disease interference (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory), and disease-related distress (NCCN Distress Scale). Linear mixed model analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Sexual concerns were common in both samples, with 57% of GI cancer patients and 53% of breast cancer patients reporting at least mild sexual concerns. Sexual concerns were stable over time and were significantly associated with lower levels of functioning in multiple domains (e.g., quality of life, symptom severity, disease interference, and disease-related distress), irrespective of length of time since diagnosis. Cancer type (GI/breast cancer) was not a moderator of this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported sexual concerns were common, stable, and related significantly to quality of life, symptom severity, disease interference, and disease-related distress for both GI and breast cancer patients. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

September 2010

Volume

18

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1179 / 1189

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
  • Quality of Life
  • Patients
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Reese, J. B., Shelby, R. A., Keefe, F. J., Porter, L. S., & Abernethy, A. P. (2010). Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer, 18(9), 1179–1189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0738-8
Reese, Jennifer Barsky, Rebecca A. Shelby, Francis J. Keefe, Laura S. Porter, and Amy P. Abernethy. “Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients.Support Care Cancer 18, no. 9 (September 2010): 1179–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0738-8.
Reese JB, Shelby RA, Keefe FJ, Porter LS, Abernethy AP. Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2010 Sep;18(9):1179–89.
Reese, Jennifer Barsky, et al. “Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients.Support Care Cancer, vol. 18, no. 9, Sept. 2010, pp. 1179–89. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s00520-009-0738-8.
Reese JB, Shelby RA, Keefe FJ, Porter LS, Abernethy AP. Sexual concerns in cancer patients: a comparison of GI and breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2010 Sep;18(9):1179–1189.
Journal cover image

Published In

Support Care Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1433-7339

Publication Date

September 2010

Volume

18

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1179 / 1189

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
  • Quality of Life
  • Patients
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
  • Female