Top

Journal of Cancer Survivorship

Published in:

01-04-2019

Finding sexual health aids after cancer: are cancer centers supporting survivors’ needs?

Authors: Sharon L. Bober, Alexis L. Michaud, Christopher J. Recklitis

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 2/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Sexual dysfunction is one of the most prevalent and distressing treatment-related side effects for both male and female cancer survivors. Survivorship care guidelines recommend therapeutic sexual aids to help improve sexual problems. However, little is known about the availability of sexual aids and resources at cancer centers.

Methods

Twenty-five comprehensive cancer centers affiliated with both the National Cancer Institute and the National Comprehensive Care Network were surveyed using the “mystery shopper” method to determine whether various types of sexual aids were available at the centers. Staffs from cancer center staff retail stores and patient boutiques were queried in separate telephone calls regarding the availability of these aids for and women.

Results

Of the 25 centers contacted, 23 (92%) responded about aids for men, and 22 (88%) responded about aids for women. Eighty-seven percent of the centers reported having no sexual aids available for men, and 72% of centers reported having no aids available for women. The most common advice given to mystery shoppers was a suggestion to use the internet. Only one center had numerous aids/resources for both men and women.

Conclusions

The large majority of cancer centers reported having no sexual aids or other sexual health resources available for men or women.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Results underscore the widespread lack of resources to promote sexual health rehabilitation at major cancer centers, both for male and female survivors.

Abbott-Anderson K, Kwekkeboom KL. A systematic review of sexual concerns reported by gynecological cancer survivors. Gynecol Oncol. 2012;124(3):477–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.11.030.CrossRefPubMed

Krychman ML, Pereira L, Carter J, Amsterdam A. Sexual oncology: sexual health issues in women with cancer. Oncology. 2006;71(1–2):18–25.CrossRefPubMed

Penson DF, McLerran D, Feng Z, Li L, Albertsen PC, Gilliland FD, et al. 5-year urinary and sexual outcomes after radical prostatectomy: results from the prostate cancer outcomes study. J Urol. 2005;173(5):1701–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000154637.38262.3a.CrossRefPubMed

Ussher JM, Perz J, Gilbert E, Cancer A, Team SS. Perceived causes and consequences of sexual changes after cancer for women and men: a mixed method study. BMC Cancer. 2015;15:268. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-015-1243-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Ganz PA, Desmond KA, Leedham B, Rowland JH, Meyerowitz BE, Belin TR. Quality of life in long-term, disease-free survivors of breast cancer: a follow-up study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002;94(1):39–49.CrossRefPubMed

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;18(9):1179–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0738-8.CrossRefPubMed

Reese JB, Lepore SJ, Handorf EA, Haythornthwaite JA. Emotional approach coping and depressive symptoms in colorectal cancer patients: the role of the intimate relationship. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2017;35(5):578–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2017.1331492.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Huyghe E, Sui D, Odensky E, Schover LR. Needs assessment survey to justify establishing a reproductive health clinic at a comprehensive cancer center. J Sex Med. 2009;6(1):149–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01005.x.CrossRef

Tesauro G, Rowland JH, Lustig C. Survivorship resources for post-treatment cancer survivors. Cancer Pract. 2002;10(6):277–83.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Goldfarb SB, Abramsohn E, Andersen BL, Baron SR, Carter J, Dickler M, et al. A national network to advance the field of cancer and female sexuality. J Sex Med. 2013;10(2):319–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12061.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

11.

Carter J, Goldfrank D, Schover LR. Simple strategies for vaginal health promotion in cancer survivors. J Sex Med. 2011;8(2):549–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01988.x.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Carter J, Stabile C, Seidel B, Baser RE, Goldfarb S, Goldfrank DJ. Vaginal and sexual health treatment strategies within a female sexual medicine program for cancer patients and survivors. J Cancer Surviv. 2017;11(2):274–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0585-9.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Kang HS, Kim HK, Park SM, Kim JH. Online-based interventions for sexual health among individuals with cancer: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):167. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-2972-6. CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

14.

Syrjala KL. Filling the gaps in knowledge and treatments for sexual health in young adult male cancer survivors. Cancer. 2016;122(14):2134–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29988. CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

15.

Elliott S, Matthew A. Sexual recovery following prostate cancer: recommendations from 2 established Canadian sexual rehabilitation clinics. Sexual medicine reviews. 2018;6(2):279–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.09.001.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Denlinger CS, Sanft T, Baker KS, Baxi S, Broderick G, Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Survivorship, version 2.2017, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 2017;15(9):1140–63. https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2017.0146. CrossRefPubMed

17.

Carter J, Lacchetti C, Andersen BL, Barton DL, Bolte S, Damast S, et al. Interventions to address sexual problems in people with cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(5):492–511. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2017.75.8995.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Reese JB, Sorice K, Beach MC, Porter LS, Tulsky JA, Daly MB, et al. Patient-provider communication about sexual concerns in cancer: a systematic review. J Cancer Surviv. 2017;11(2):175–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0577-9.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Hill EK, Sandbo S, Abramsohn E, Makelarski J, Wroblewski K, Wenrich ER, et al. Assessing gynecologic and breast cancer survivors' sexual health care needs. Cancer. 2011;117(12):2643–51. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.25832. CrossRefPubMed

20.

Stabile C, Goldfarb S, Baser RE, Goldfrank DJ, Abu-Rustum NR, Barakat RR, et al. Sexual health needs and educational intervention preferences for women with cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017;165(1):77–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4305-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

21.

Frederick NN, Campbell K, Kenney LB, Moss K, Speckhart A, Bober SL. Barriers and facilitators to sexual and reproductive health communication between pediatric oncology clinicians and adolescent and young adult patients: the clinician perspective. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018;65(8):e27087. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.27087.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Collins JC, Schneider CR, Faraj R, Wilson F, de Almeida Neto AC, Moles RJ. Management of common ailments requiring referral in the pharmacy: a mystery shopping intervention study. Int J Clin Pharm. 2017;39(4):697–703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0505-8.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Foley E, Furegato M, Hughes G, Board C, Hayden V, Prescott T, et al. Inequalities in access to genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK: results from a mystery shopper survey. Sex Transm Infect. 2017;93(7):472–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2016-052882.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Hamlyn GS, Hutchins KE, Johnston AL, Thomas RT, Tian J, Kamal AH. Accessibility and barriers to oncology appointments at 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers: results of a mystery shopper project. Journal of oncology practice / American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2016;12(10):e884–900. https://doi.org/10.1200/jop.2016.014159.CrossRef

25.

Miller DC, Wei JT, Dunn RL, Montie JE, Pimentel H, Sandler HM, et al. Use of medications or devices for erectile dysfunction among long-term prostate cancer treatment survivors: potential influence of sexual motivation and/or indifference. Urology. 2006;68(1):166–71.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Salonia A, Burnett AL, Graefen M, Hatzimouratidis K, Montorsi F, Mulhall JP, et al. Prevention and management of postprostatectomy sexual dysfunctions part 2: recovery and preservation of erectile function, sexual desire, and orgasmic function. Eur Urol. 2012;62(2):273–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2012.04.047.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Wassersug R, Wibowo E. Non-pharmacological and non-surgical strategies to promote sexual recovery for men with erectile dysfunction. Transl Androl Urol 2017;6(Suppl 5):S776-s94. doi:https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2017.04.09, S794.

28.

Reese JB, Bober SL, Daly MB. Talking about women's sexual health after cancer: why is it so hard to move the needle? Cancer. 2017;123(24):4757–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.31084. CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

29.

Cavallo J. Addressing patients' sexual function throughout survivorship: a conversation with Patricia A. Ganz, MD. 2014. http://www.ascopost.com/issues/november-15-2014/addressing-patients-sexual-dysfunction-throughout-survivorship/. Accessed July 26 2018.

30.

Dizon DS, Suzin D, McIlvenna S. Sexual health as a survivorship issue for female cancer survivors. Oncologist. 2014;19(2):202–10. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2013-0302.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

31.

Bober SL, Recklitis CJ, Campbell EG, Park ER, Kutner JS, Najita JS, et al. Caring for cancer survivors: a survey of primary care physicians. Cancer. 2009;115(18 Suppl):4409–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.24590.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Tsai YF. Nurses' facilitators and barriers for taking a sexual history in Taiwan. Appl Nurs Res. 2004;17(4):257–64.CrossRefPubMed

33.

Bauermeister JA, Pingel ES, Jadwin-Cakmak L, Meanley S, Alapati D, Moore M, et al. The use of mystery shopping for quality assurance evaluations of HIV/STI testing sites offering services to young gay and bisexual men. AIDS Behav. 2015;19(10):1919–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1174-z.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

34.

Zhou ES, Partridge AH, Syrjala KL, Michaud AL, Recklitis CJ. Evaluation and treatment of insomnia in adult cancer survivorship programs. J Cancer Surviv. 2017;11(1):74–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-016-0564-1.CrossRefPubMed

35.

Faubion SS, Larkin LC, Stuenkel CA, Bachmann GA, Chism LA, Kagan R, et al. Management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in women with or at high risk for breast cancer: consensus recommendations from the North American Menopause Society and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Menopause. 2018;25(6):596–608. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000001121. CrossRefPubMed

36.

Bober S, Reese JB, Barbera L, Bradford A, Carpenter KM, Goldfarb S, et al. How to ask and what to do: a guide for clinical inquiry and intervention regarding female sexual health after cancer. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2016;10:44–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000186.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Finding sexual health aids after cancer: are cancer centers supporting survivors’ needs?
Authors: Sharon L. Bober
Alexis L. Michaud
Christopher J. Recklitis
Publication date: 01-04-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00744-2

Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi

Developed by: Springer Medicine

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2019

Dual cigarette and e-cigarette use in cancer survivors: an analysis using Population Assessment of Tobacco Health (PATH) data

Associations between e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use among U.S. cancer survivors: implications for research and practice

Adherence to American Cancer Society and American Institute of Cancer Research dietary guidelines in overweight African American breast cancer survivors

Cognitive functioning in thyroid cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Receipt of a survivorship care plan and self-reported health behaviors among cancer survivors

High-intensity exercise during chemotherapy induces beneficial effects 12 months into breast cancer survivorship

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer