title: Exploring childhood cancer survivors' views about sex and sexual experiences -findings from online focus group discussions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore childhood cancer survivors' views about sex and sexual experiences and, as an additional aim, their possible needs for care and support from health care professionals regarding sexual life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written online focus group discussions were performed with survivors of childhood cancer, identified through the Swedish Childhood Cancer Registry; 133 (36%; aged 16-25) participated. Written text was analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis resulted in one main category: Could my cancer experience have an impact on my sexual life? with four generic categories: Sex considered to be good, Feeling insecure and falling behind, Relating sex to a stable relationship and Concerns related to the physical body. In general, participants had not reflected on the possibility that their cancer experience could impact on sexual life. Sex was often considered to be something natural, important and taken for granted. However, thoughts and worries were expressed including being shy, feeling insecure and falling behind peers. Physical concerns included vaginal dryness and difficulties related to erection and reaching orgasm. Many participants stated that sexual issues had not been discussed with health care professionals, however, the need for such support differed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of the childhood cancer survivors' did not relate their sexual experiences to previous cancer treatment. However, problems were expressed, both of emotional and physical nature. Many participants stated that they had not received any information or support regarding sexual issues from health care professionals, why it is recommended to be regularly addressed in follow-up care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.jervaeus@ki.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jervaeus
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Center (LIME, MMC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; School of Health Sciences, City University London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lars E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden; School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lampic
authors.affiliation: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Center (LIME, MMC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Quality and Patient Safety, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Widmark
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wettergren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood cancer survivors; Content analysis; Online focus group discussions; Sexual life