[Exploratory study of factors related sexual dysfunction among cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the factors related to the sexual dysfunction among cancer patients and make preparation for its prevention and treatment to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.


METHODS
Self-designed questionnaires about sexual function were used and 130 patients in their rehabilitation period interviewed. These patients were suffering from different kinds of cancer.


RESULTS
Age of patients and their perception of sex are two important factors resulting in significant difference of suffering rate of sexual dysfunction among these cancer patients. The total suffering rate of sexual dysfunction among patients suffering from reproductive cancer is significantly higher than that of patients suffering from cancer in other systems. Of all the factors we analyzed in the research, we found that stage of cancer; physical strength and perception of sex had significant correlation with newly emerging sexual dysfunction. From the patient's point of view, those newly suffering from sexual dysfunction after their cases were diagnosed as cancer thought that cancer treatment had negative effect on their sexual function.


CONCLUSIONS
Stage of cancer, physical strength and perception of sex had significant correlation with sexual dysfunction of cancer patients who have received cancer treatment. This suggests that, intervention in patients' wrong perception of sex is the first aspect we should pay attention to in treating and preventing sexual dysfunction among cancer patients.
Chen
Fan
F
Rehabilitation Department, Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing 100036, China. chenfan@bjmu.edu.cn
Gao
Fei
F
Zhang
Yanling
Y
Zhang
Zongwei
Z
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*