Quality of life after breast cancer: survivorship and sexuality

Breast J. 2009 Sep-Oct;15(5):500-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2009.00766.x. Epub 2009 Jul 14.

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors make up a largest proportion of cancer survivors in the United States. This has prompted a concerted effort to address and meet the needs of this ever-growing population, far beyond the emphasis on improvements on therapy. Breast cancer survivors face multiple concerns that span the medical, psychosocial, sexual, and physical realms. Among these issues, concerns related to fatigue and distress, fertility considerations, and sexual dysfunction are perhaps ones that treating oncologists are not as comfortable in discussion and counseling their patients on. This report will focus on these four issues highlighting information for the treating oncologist which can assist in the evaluation, counseling, and treatment for their patients.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arousal
  • Breast Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Counseling
  • Dyspareunia / epidemiology
  • Dyspareunia / etiology
  • Estrogens / therapeutic use
  • Fatigue / epidemiology
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology
  • Humans
  • Orgasm
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sexuality*
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Survivors

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Estrogens