Abstract
All cancers and related treatments have the potential to affect sexuality and sexual function. This may result from impaired body function or altered body image, or from the emotional and psychological distress that often accompany diagnosis and treatment. Many cancer patients may be unprepared for changes in their sexuality and sex life during or after cancer treatment, making these side effects or sexual problems more difficult to address. Sexuality is an important part of everyone’s life, however, health care professionals and patients rarely talk about the effects of cancer and its treatments on sexuality possibly owing to lack of knowledge and expertise. To provide this component of care, health care professionals need to have good communication skills, an open and non-judgmental approach, and knowledge of the potential ramifications of disease and treatment on sexuality. This paper makes a revision of the item showing a practical approach on the treatment of the problems of sexuality in patients with cancer. (MÉD.UIS. 2010;23(2):126-33).
Key words: cancer. Sexuality. Sexual dysfunction.
References
2. American Cancer Society. Consulta en la Web: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/stt/stt_0.asp?from=fast
3. American Cancer Society. Consulta en la Web: http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/Global_Facts_and_ Figures_2007_rev2.pdf
4. World Health Organization. Consulta en la Web: http://www.who.int/cancer/media/en/GlobalActionCancerEnglfull.pdf - http://www.who.int/features/qa/15/en/index.html
5. World Health Organization. Consulta en la Web: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/gender_rights/sexual_health/en/
6. Jerrold S. Greenberg, Clint E. Bruess, Sarah C. Conklin. Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality 2010;151–72.
7. Carrobles JA, Sanz A. Clasificación de los problemas sexuales. Terapia Sexual. Ed. Fundación Universidad-Empresa. Madrid 1998;25-55.
8. Amsterdam A. Sexual dysfunction in patients with gynecologic neoplasms: A retrospective pilot study. Journal of sexual medicine 2006;(3):646-8.
9. Jarousse N, Khayat D. La volonté d’aimer, cancer et sexualité: des réponses claires et précises. Paris: Ellébore, 2001.
10. Schover LR, Schain WS, Montague DK. Psychologic aspects of patients with cancer: Sexual problems in patients with cancer. Clinical oncology: A multidisciplinary approach, 2 ed. New York: American Cancer Society 1989;2220-5.
11. Sundquist K, Yee L. Sexuality and body image after cancer. Aust Fam Physician 2003;32(1-2):19-23
12. Larsen PD, Lubkin IM. Chronic illness: impact and intervention 2009;241-4
13. Jardin A, Queneau P, Giuliano F. Progrès thérapeutiques: la médicalisation de la sexualité en question 2002;103-11
14. Rubin P, Constine LS, Marks LB. CURED I - LENT Late Effects of Cancer Treatment on Normal Tissues 2007;109-27
15. Patricia A, Ganz, Sandra J. Horning. Cancer survivorship: today and tomorrow 2007;114–21.
16. Potosky AL, Davis WW, Hoffman RM et al. Five year outcomes after prostatectomy or radiotherapy for prostate cancer: the prostate cancer outcomes study. J. National Cancer Institute 96 2004;18:1358-67.
17. Steineck G, Helgesen F, Adolfsson J, et al. Quality of life after radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting. The New England Journal of Medicine 2002;347:790-6
18. Casciato D, Mary C. Territo. Manual of clinical oncology 2008;557-66