Sexual dysfunction in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine differences in body image and sexuality of breast cancer survivors, depending on treatment: radical mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery.


METHODS
A total of 206 patients treated for breast cancer between January 2001 and January 2004 were asked to fill in the questionnaire 1-5 years after treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 108 patients with advanced stages of breast cancer and who were treated with modified mastectomy with adjuvant chemo- or radiation therapy. The second group consisted of 98 patients with early stages of breast cancer who were treated with breast conserving surgery, lumpectomy and radiotherapy.


RESULTS
A significant number of patients in both groups was satisfied with their sexual life before treatment, 70.37 and 73.47% respectively, which is grossly reduced after treatment of breast cancer (56.48 and 50.00%, respectively, p > 0.05). Most of patients found their partner's attitude towards them to be the same (31.48 and 45.92%), or even better (39.82 and 25.51%) after treatment, and they described them as very supportive and tender. In group 1, 58.33% of patients felt differences in their body image, in contrast to 44.90% in group 2. Similar proportions were observed in both groups for patients who felt mutilated (18.52 vs. 8.16%, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm and extend previous reports of impaired sexual functioning among breast cancer survivors.
Buković
Damir
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia.
Fajdić
Josip
J
Hrgović
Zlatko
Z
Kaufmann
Manfred
M
Hojsak
Iva
I
Stancerić
Tajana
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome