title: Experience of sexuality after breast cancer: a qualitative study with women in rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to comprehend the psychosocial and cultural repercussions of breast cancer and its treatment on the sexuality of women.
  
  
  METHODS
  this is a qualitative study grounded in the Sexual Scripts Theory with the participation of 23 women who were interviewed and participated in focus groups discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  each category was related to a level of the sexual scripts. At the cultural scenario level a discourse on sexuality that includes definitions of sexual attractiveness and sexuality was highlighted. The interpersonal scripts level focused on the communication regarding sexuality established with the partner and with healthcare professionals category; and at the subjectivity scripts level the reports of improvement, deterioration and no change in the sexual life after cancer were analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the experience of cancer involves cultural, relational, and subjective aspects that affect the sexual life, therefore, healthcare professionals should be aware of them to improve integral healthcare.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Meloni
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Barsotti
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel Antônio dos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie e Santé des Populations, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Le Kremlin, Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019529:Sexuality