title: Patients treated for hematologic malignancies: affected sexuality and health-related quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexuality in relation to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is studied mostly with younger patients as participants who have undergone bone marrow transplantation and concerns fertility and/or sexual function. However, patients with hematologic malignancies such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia most often are above their fifties and are treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to examine how sexuality and HRQoL were affected in patients with hematologic malignancies at baseline compared with 1 month after chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected twice with a longitudinal design using the Sexual Adjustment Questionnaire and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two patients responded. The importance of sexuality, sexual desire, and sexual ability decreased 1 month after treatment and distressing symptoms such as feelings of tiredness occurred more frequently compared with baseline. At the same time, improvement in global health status/quality of life as well as affected functions in HRQoL was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are of significance for nurses in cancer care as these highlight that sexuality and HRQoL need to be considered also in older patients with hematologic malignancies when fertility issues are of less importance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To meet these patients' needs regarding sexuality and HRQoL, the care must provide greater consistency and continuity. One way is to organize the care in a patient-centered way where patients continuously meet a nurse guided by the idea of holistic individual nursing care throughout the care trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Sweden (Ms Olsson and Drs Sandin-Bojö, Bjuresäter, and Larsson); and the Women Department, The County Council of Värmland, Sweden (Dr Sandin-Bojö).
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Ann-Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sandin-Bojö
authors.forename: Kaisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bjuresäter
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents