Sexual Dysfunction in Oncology

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S282-S282
Author(s):  
M.C. Cochat Costa Rodrigues ◽  
R.G. Faria ◽  
S. Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Sexual Dysfunctions ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Pelvic Tumors ◽  
Pelvic Nerves ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionSexual dysfunction is a common consequence of cancer treatment that affects at least half of men and women treated for pelvic tumors and more than one quarter of individuals with other malignancies.Objectives/aimsIdentification of the main sexual dysfunctions related to cancer treatments. Awareness to the importance of addressing sexuality to cancer patients, identifying the main reasons why healthcare providers usually do not.MethodsLiterature review concerning researched articles published in Pubmed/Medline as well as related bibliography.ResultsMost sexual problems are not caused by the cancer itself, but by toxicities of cancer treatment. Damage during cancer treatment to pelvic nerves, blood vessels and organ structures leads to the highest rates of sexual dysfunction. The most common sexual dysfunction in men under cancer treatment is the loss of desire for sex and erectile dysfunction. In women, the most common sexual dysfunctions are vaginal dryness, dyspareunia and loss of sexual desire, usually accompanied by difficulties in both the arousal and orgasm phases. According to literature, there are many cancer patients who would like to be informed and advised by their healthcare providers about the consequences of cancer treatment on their sexual health. Unfortunately, this rarely happens.ConclusionsThis work intends to publicize current existing information on sexual dysfunction in oncology, focusing on the prevalence, etiology and clinical presentation. The authors also intend to promote communication about sexual function and possible sexual dysfunctions resulting from cancer treatments.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Approach to sexual dysfunction in women with cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 630-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lino Del Pup ◽  
P Villa ◽  
I D Amar ◽  
C Bottoni ◽  
G Scambia
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Common Side Effect ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Sexual Dysfunctions ◽  
Sexual Counseling ◽  
Female Cancer Patients

Sexual dysfunction in female cancer patients remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. As sexual dysfunction is becoming an increasingly common side effect of cancer treatments, it is imperative for healthcare providers and especially gynecologic oncologists to include a comprehensive evaluation of sexual health as a routine part of the workup of such patients. Although most oncologists are not experienced in treating sexual dysfunctions, simple tools can be incorporated into clinical practice to improve the management of these conditions. In this review, we propose a practical approach to selecting proper treatment for sexual dysfunctions in female cancer patients. This includes three main steps: knowledge, diagnosis, and sexual counseling. Knowledge can be acquired through a specific updating about sexual issues in female cancers, and with a medical training in female sexual dysfunctions. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive history and physical examination. Sexual counseling is one of the most important interventions to consider and, in some cases, it may be the only intervention needed to help cancer patients tolerate their symptoms. Sexual counseling should be addressed by oncologists; however, select patients should be referred for qualified psychological or sexological interventions where appropriate. Finally, a multidisciplinary team approach may be the best way to address this challenging issue.

scholarly journals Prolonged SARS-CoV-2-RNA Detection from Nasopharyngeal Swabs in an Oncologic Patient: What Impact on Cancer Treatment?

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 847-852
Author(s):  
Anna Ferrari ◽  
Marco Trevenzoli ◽  
Lolita Sasset ◽  
Elisabetta Di Liso ◽  
Toni Tavian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Palliative Radiotherapy ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Pcr Assays

The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 is a serious global challenge affecting millions of people worldwide. Cancer patients are at risk for infection exposure and serious complications. A prompt diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for the timely adoption of isolation measures and the appropriate management of cancer treatments. In lung cancer patients the symptoms of infection 19 may resemble those exhibited by the underlying oncologic condition, possibly leading to diagnostic overlap and delays. Moreover, cancer patients might display a prolonged positivity of nasopharyngeal RT-PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2, causing long interruptions or delay of cancer treatments. However, the association between the positivity of RT-PCR assays and the patient’s infectivity remains uncertain. We describe the case of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer, and a severe ab extrinseco compression of the trachea, whose palliative radiotherapy was delayed because of the prolonged positivity of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2. The patient did not show clinical symptoms suggestive of active infection, but the persistent positivity of RT-PCR assays imposed the continuation of isolation measures and the delay of radiotherapy for over two months. Finally, the negative result of SARS-CoV-2 viral culture allowed us to verify the absence of viral activity and to rule out the infectivity of the patient, who could finally continue her cancer treatment.

Young-onset colorectal cancer treatment side effects: Infertility, sexual dysfunction, and quality-of-life outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3587-3587
Author(s):  
Laura Diane Porter ◽  
Ronit Yarden ◽  
Kim Lynn Newcomer ◽  
Negeen Fathi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Young Onset

3587 Background: Colorectal cancer is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States. Young-onset colorectal cancer refers to individuals diagnosed under the age of 50. In recent years, the incidence has increased by 2.2% annually in individuals younger than 50 years and 1% in individuals 50-64, in contrast to a 3.3% decrease in adults 65 years and older. Young-onset (YO) CRC patients and survivors face unique clinical challenges with fertility and sexual dysfunctions, but this risk is not well quantified. There is limited data and public discussion on the long-term effects of colorectal cancer treatments on fertility and sexual dysfunction and the long-term impact on the quality of life. Methods: To explore the unique challenges and unmet needs of the young-adult patient population, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Colorectal cancer patients and survivors (N = 884) diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 50 years old (median age 42 ± 7.0) completed an online questionnaire based on established instruments EORTC-QOL-30, EORTC-CR-29, and EORTC-SHC-22. Results: Thirty-one percent of respondents stated that a medical professional spoke to them about fertility preservation at the time of diagnosis and during treatment. Only 31% were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist, even though 37% of women and 16% of men reported that treatment left them infertile or sterile. Among survey respondents, 12% of women had an egg retrieval procedure, and 36% of men had their sperm preserved prior to the start of treatment. Fifty-three percent of women reported treatment led to premature menopause. Sixty-five percent of respondents suffer from some level of sexual dysfunction due to treatment. In patients who received radiation therapy, women were 12% less likely than men to have discussed sexual side effects with the provider before treatment. Patients who have an ostomy reported more severe sexual dysfunction (17.8%). Rectal cancer patients were 2.5 times more likely than those with colon cancer to report severe dysfunction after their treatment. More than 25% of the respondents said they would have considered alternative treatment if they would have known the risks of sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: Our survey demonstrates inadequate communications between patients and providers about the irreversible fertility and sexual effects of colorectal cancer treatments. Younger patients and survivors face unique long-term challenges and require further information about fertility preservation options and emotional support regarding their sexuality post-treatment. Other studies are needed to assess the physical and psychological side effects endured by young-onset CRC patients and survivors.

An Internet-based survey evaluating attitudes of cancer patients towards pain intervention

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 18540-18540
Author(s):  
C. B. Simone ◽  
N. Vapiwala ◽  
M. K. Hampshire ◽  
J. M. Metz
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Pain Medications ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Pain Intervention ◽  
Pain Symptoms

18540 Background: Pain is a common symptom among cancer patients (pts), but many pts experience inadequate medical management for pain. There are little data quantifying reasons that cancer pts fail to receive optimal analgesic treatment. This study evaluated those reasons and investigated the causes of pain in cancer pts. Methods: An Internet-based questionnaire assessing pt demographics and pain symptoms was piloted with pts and healthcare providers and posted on the OncoLink (http://www.oncolink.org) website. The questionnaire included 22 queries evaluating medication utilization, pain control and attitudes regarding pain medications. The questionnaire was IRB approved and held on a secure server. Between 11/05–1/06, 99 pts responded to the questionnaire. They were predominantly Caucasian (76%), female (78%) and pursued education beyond high school (66%). The most common diseases included cancer of the breast (51%), lung (8%) and brain (6%). Cancer treatment included surgery (75%), chemotherapy (63%) and radiation (45%). Results: Half (49%) of the respondents reported pain directly from their cancer and 42% complained of pain due to cancer treatment. This pain was primarily intermittent (42%) or chronic (35%). Most (77%) pts did not use medication specifically to help manage their pain. Analgesic usage trended less in women (19% vs. 36%, p = 0.10), Caucasians (19% vs. 38%, p = 0.06), and pts with higher education levels (17% vs. 26%, p = 0.29) but did not reach statistical significance. Reasons most commonly cited for not taking analgesics included the healthcare provider not recommending medications (86%), fear of becoming addicted or dependent (80%) and an inability to pay for medication (75%). Participants experiencing pain, but not taking analgesics, sought alternative measures for pain control such as physical therapy (84%), massage (7%) and acupuncture (4%). Conclusions: Although many cancer pts experience pain regularly, both from their cancer and cancer treatment, most pts in this study did not seek out analgesics. Pts do seek complementary therapies for pain control. Healthcare providers should regularly have open discussions with pts regarding pain symptoms. Further study will be needed to evaluate attitudes of pts towards pain based on disease condition. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals How We Treat Genitourinary Cancers During COVID-19 Pandemic?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (S1) ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
Deepak Dabkara ◽  
Sandip Ganguly ◽  
Joydeep Ghosh ◽  
Amol Patel ◽  
Atul Batra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
National Level ◽  
Local Treatment ◽  
Oncological Outcome ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Healthcare Settings

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic and affected the entire globe. Daily routine life is affected due to global restriction of movement and infected more than 3.7 million peoples in more than 200 countries. It’s an invisible enemy which has imposed a clear threat to the humanity. Patients other than COVID-19 is also suffering a lot due to this unforeseen circumstances. This pandemic also shaken the powerful nations with best of healthcare settings. Oncology is a unique sector of healthcare as cancer patients are at more risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and cancer treatments are also affected. Many regulatory bodies and professional organizations have come up with guidelines for healthcare personals and patients to guide anti-cancer treatment during COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time to formulate local treatment guidelines to guide cancer treatment with optimum use of healthcare resources at society and national level keeping in mind the load of COVID-19 at the concerned region. We have formulated guidelines to manage genitourinary cancer patients during this pandemic, especially in resource constraint setting with the aim of – optimum treatment of these patients with reduction of risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection without affecting oncological outcome.  

scholarly journals “I’m Dealing With That”: Illness Concerns of African American and White Cancer Patients While Undergoing Active Cancer Treatments

2020 ◽  
pp. 104990912096912
Author(s):  
Salimah H. Meghani ◽  
Kristin Levoy ◽  
Kristin Corey Magan ◽  
Lauren T. Starr ◽  
Liana Yocavitch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
African American ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Financial Toxicity ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Illness Trajectory

Background: National oncology guidelines recommend early integration of palliative care for patients with cancer. However, drivers for this integration remain understudied. Understanding illness concerns at the time of cancer treatment may help facilitate integration earlier in the cancer illness trajectory. Objective: To describe cancer patients’ concerns while undergoing cancer treatment, and determine if concerns differ among African Americans and Whites. Methods: A 1-time, semi-structured qualitative interview was conducted with a purposive subsample of cancer patients participating in a larger study of illness concerns. Eligible patients were undergoing cancer treatments and had self-reported moderate-to-severe pain in the last week. Analysis encompassed a qualitative descriptive approach with inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants (16 African American, 16 White) had a median age of 53 and were predominantly females (72%) with stage III/IV cancer (53%). Illness concerns were largely consistent across participants and converged on 3 themes: symptom experience (pain, options to manage pain), cancer care delivery (communication, care coordination and care transitions), and practical concerns (access to community and health system resources, financial toxicity). Conclusions: The findings extend the scope of factors that could be utilized to integrate palliative care earlier in the cancer illness trajectory, moving beyond the symptoms- and prognosis-based triggers that typify current referrals to also consider diverse logistical concerns. Using this larger set of concerns aids anticipatory risk mitigation and planning (e.g. care transitions, financial toxicity), helps patients receive a larger complement of support services, and builds cancer patients’ capacity toward a more patient-centered treatment and care experience.

scholarly journals Fertility Preservation and Sexual Health After Cancer Therapy

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 643-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Pereira ◽  
Glenn L. Schattman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
After Cancer

Recent developments in cancer diagnostics and treatments have considerably improved long-term survival rates. Despite improvements in chemotherapy regimens, more focused radiotherapy and diverse surgical options, cancer treatments often have gonadotoxic side-effects that can manifest as loss of fertility or sexual dysfunction, particularly in young cancer survivors. In this review, we focus on two pertinent quality-of-life issues in female cancer survivors of reproductive age—fertility preservation and sexual function. Fertility preservation encompasses all clinical and laboratory efforts to preserve a woman’s chance to achieve future genetic motherhood. These efforts range from well-established protocols such as ovarian stimulation with cryopreservation of embryos or oocytes, to nascent clinical trials involving cryopreservation and re-implantation of ovarian tissue. Therefore, fertility preservation strategies are individualized to the cancer diagnosis, time interval until initiation of treatments must begin, prognosis, pubertal status, and maturity level of patient. Some patients choose not to pursue fertility preservation, and the conversation then centers around other quality of life issues. Not all cancer treatments cause loss of fertility; however, most treatments can directly impact the physical and psychosocial aspects of sexual function. Cancer treatment is also associated with fear, anxiety, and depression, which can further decrease sexual desire, function, and frequency. Sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment is generally ascertained by compassionate inquiry. Strategies to promote sexual function after cancer treatment include pelvic floor exercises, clitoral therapy devices, pharmacologic agents, as well as couples-based psychotherapeutic and psycho-educational interventions. Quality-of-life issues in young cancer survivors are often best addressed by utilizing a multidisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, sex educators, counselors, or therapists.

Sexual health inquiry preferences among gynecologic cancer patients after radiation therapy.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 87-87
Author(s):  
Gerard Edward Heath ◽  
Pamela Fairchild ◽  
Mitchell Berger ◽  
Anagha Tolpadi ◽  
Christina Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Gynecologic Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Gynecologic Cancers

87 Background: Following radiation therapy (RT), gynecologic oncology patients report high rates of sexual dysfunction. However, little is known regarding communication of sexual health among these patients and their healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess the beliefs/attitudes of patients regarding sexual history taking. Methods: Survey results were obtained from 75 women who presented for follow up care for gynecologic cancers in the radiation oncology department. The surveys assessed patient beliefs about sexual health and its impact on overall quality of life, the role practitioners should play in obtaining an accurate sexual history, and preferences and level of embarrassment regarding sexual history collection. Overall level of sexual functioning was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Chi-squared tests were used to analyze categorical variables and logistic regression modeling was used to predict agreement with survey statements. Results: Most subjects were white and married with a mean FSFI score of 9.9 [(SD = 10.3) sexual dysfunction is defined as < 26.5]. 78.7% agreed that sexual function is an important component of overall health, and only 12.0% reported embarrassment about discussing their sexual health with healthcare providers. 62.79% agreed that medical providers should take a sexual history on a regular basis. However, 58.7% and 22.7% of women report never or almost never being asked about their sexual health by their primary care physician or Ob/Gyn, respectively. Approximately two-thirds of women expressed a preference to have a female provider obtain their sexual health history. Conclusions: Gynecologic cancer patients s/p RT report low sexual function scores. A majority agree that sexual function is essential to overall health. They report little embarrassment regarding discussions of sexual health, yet, note limited discussion about the topic with their healthcare providers. This work highlights the need for improvements in communication about sexual health. We suggest that healthcare providers caring for women with gynecologic cancers should more regularly inquire about their patients’ sexual health and function.

scholarly journals The Two Sides of Dietary Antioxidants in Cancer Therapy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musbau Adewumi Akanji ◽  
Heritage Demilade Fatinukun ◽  
Damilare Emmanuel Rotimi ◽  
Boluwatife Lawrence Afolabi ◽  
Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Dietary Antioxidants ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
The World ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
Radiotherapy Treatment

Cancer is a major cause of mortality around the world, representing about 13% of deaths on the planet. Among the available cancer treatments, chemotherapy is most frequently utilized compared to other treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy. Many dietary antioxidants have proven to effectively prevent oxidative stress, which has been noted in many disease pathogeneses, including cancer. However, during chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment of cancer patients, antioxidants are used as an adjuvant treatment. The use of a proof-based technique is advised in determining the supplements most suited to cancer patients. Though there are numerous opinions about the dangers and advantages of antioxidants, it is reasonable to conclude that side effects caused by antioxidants, for now, remain unclear for patients during cancer treatment, aside from smokers during radiotherapy. In this report, details of the effectiveness of antioxidants on cancer treatment aiding in the reduction of cancer therapy side effects are discussed.

scholarly journals Trophoblast Cell-surface Antigen 2 Expression in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients and the Effects of Anti-cancer Treatments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shota Omori ◽  
Koji Muramatsu ◽  
Takuya Kawata ◽  
Eriko Miyawaki ◽  
Taichi Miyawaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Trophoblast Cell ◽  
Advanced Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background: Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is expressed on the surface of trophoblast cells and many malignant tumor cells. However, data on TROP2 expression in advanced lung cancer is insufficient, and its changes have not been fully evaluated. Methods: We assessed the prevalence and changes in TROP2 expression in lung cancer patients receiving anti-cancer treatments using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis with an anti-TROP2 (clone: SP295). IHC scores were graded from 0–3; grade ≥2 was considered positive for TROP2 expression. We defined a difference in IHC score, before and after anti-cancer treatments, as the change in TROP2 expression.Results: Before anti-cancer treatment, TROP2 expression was observed in 89% (143/160) of patients and was significantly more common in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma than in neuroendocrine carcinoma (P < 0.001). After anti-cancer treatment, TROP2 expression was observed in 87% (139/160) of patients. The distribution of TROP2 expression in post-treatment samples was analogous to that in pre-treatment samples when compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P = 0.509). However, an increase in TROP2 expression was seen in 19 (12%), and a decrease in 20 (13%) patients. Patients treated with targeted therapy showed significantly higher changes in TROP2 expression (P = 0.019) and thoracic radiotherapy was more likely to increase TROP2 expression than chemotherapy alone.Conclusion: TROP2 was expressed in most lung cancer specimens before and after anti-cancer treatments. Additionally, some anti-cancer treatments might alter the TROP2 expression. These results may provide a strong rationale for TROP2-directed therapy against advanced lung cancer.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document