title: The impact of chemotherapy for breast cancer on sexual function and health-related quality of life.
abstract: In this prospective trial, we evaluated the influence of chemotherapy for breast cancer on women's health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), sexual function, and mental status.
  
  
  
  The patients completed validated questionnaires on HR-QoL, sexual function, and depression before, during, and at the end and finally 6 months after chemotherapy. Special attention was paid to possible differences between pre- and postmenopausal patients.
  
  
  
  Between 2008 and 2012, 79 patients were enrolled in the trial (mean age 47.46 years). Premenopausal participants were 63.3 %. Sexual activity dropped from 71.9 % before chemotherapy to a minimum of 47 % at the end of chemotherapy. A similar effect was seen for pleasure and discomfort. Depression values were the highest at the beginning of chemotherapy, with spontaneous improvement in many patients during the course of time. HR-QoL and global health status both increased 6 months after therapy. For almost all parameters, changes were more obvious in pre- than in postmenopausal patients.
  
  
  
  In a close monitoring, we observed significant changes in HR-QoL, depression, and sexual function in breast cancer patients. Special attention needs to be paid to premenopausal patients. The knowledge of effective recovery and spontaneous improvement of HR-QoL in spite of still impaired sexuality are important information in counseling both pre- and postmenopausal patients with diagnosis of breast cancer prior to upcoming therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany. juliane.farthmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8338-3531
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farthmann
authors.affiliation: Centre of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine Freiburg (CERF), Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanjalic-Beck
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veit
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rautenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stickeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erbes
authors.affiliation: Foeldiklinik, Hinterzarten, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Földi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasenburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Breast cancer; Depression; Quality of life; Sexual function