Thierry Almont1,2, Corinne Couteau3, Hélène Etienne3, Pierre Bondil4, Rosine Guimbaud3, Leslie Schover5, Éric Huyghe6,7. 1. EA 3694 Human Fertility Research Group, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, CHU Toulouse Paule de Viguier - Reproductive Medicine Department, 330 avenue de Grande-Bretagne, TSA 70034, 31059, Toulouse cedex 9, France. almont.t@chu-toulouse.fr. 2. French Education and Research Group in Andrology, Urology and Sexology (GEFRAUS), CHU Toulouse Paule de Viguier - Reproductive Medicine Department, 330 avenue de Grande-Bretagne, TSA 70034, 31059, Toulouse cedex 9, France. almont.t@chu-toulouse.fr. 3. Digestive Cancer Department, CHU Toulouse (IUCT-Rangueil-Larrey), 1 Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31059, Toulouse cedex 9, France. 4. Francophone Association for Supportive Care (AFSOS), 76, rue Marcel Sembat, 33130, Bègles, France. 5. Will2Love, LLC, 1333 Old Spanish Trail, Suite G, #134, Houston, TX, 77054, USA. 6. EA 3694 Human Fertility Research Group, Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, CHU Toulouse Paule de Viguier - Reproductive Medicine Department, 330 avenue de Grande-Bretagne, TSA 70034, 31059, Toulouse cedex 9, France. 7. French Education and Research Group in Andrology, Urology and Sexology (GEFRAUS), CHU Toulouse Paule de Viguier - Reproductive Medicine Department, 330 avenue de Grande-Bretagne, TSA 70034, 31059, Toulouse cedex 9, France.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess sexual health and needs for sexology care of cancer patients during chemotherapy. METHODS: We performed a 4-month cross-sectional study in cancer patients treated by chemotherapy in the digestive cancer department of a regional university hospital. Patients were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire about their sexual health, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire for Male (SQoL-M) or Female (SQoL-F), and their needs for sexology care. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 47 men and 31 women. Tumor locations were 36 colorectal (46%), 23 pancreatic (30%), and 19 other digestive cancers (24%). SQoL scores were lower in women (p < .001), in pancreatic and colorectal tumors (p = .041 and p = .033, respectively) compared to other digestive cancers, and in less-educated patients (p = .023). During chemotherapy, 40% of sexually active patients had less frequent sexual intercourse than before diagnosis, and 33% had completely stopped sexual activity. Sexuality care was desired by 44% of respondents. Among them, 83% favored a consultation with a medical sexologist and 63% with a psycho-sexologist, 54% wanted couple therapy, and 31% considered support groups. Patients with colorectal cancer had more frequent sexual intercourse without penetration at the time of survey (p = .036) and more often wanted couple therapy than patients with pancreatic cancer (p = .048). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first determination of sexual health and sexual quality of life in digestive cancers. Targets for interventions during chemotherapy for digestive cancers include populations with lower sexual quality of life: women, pancreatic sites, patients with sexual troubles during chemotherapy, and less-educated patients.
PURPOSE: To assess sexual health and needs for sexology care of cancerpatients during chemotherapy. METHODS: We performed a 4-month cross-sectional study in cancerpatients treated by chemotherapy in the digestive cancer department of a regional university hospital. Patients were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire about their sexual health, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire for Male (SQoL-M) or Female (SQoL-F), and their needs for sexology care. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 47 men and 31 women. Tumor locations were 36 colorectal (46%), 23 pancreatic (30%), and 19 other digestive cancers (24%). SQoL scores were lower in women (p < .001), in pancreatic and colorectal tumors (p = .041 and p = .033, respectively) compared to other digestive cancers, and in less-educated patients (p = .023). During chemotherapy, 40% of sexually active patients had less frequent sexual intercourse than before diagnosis, and 33% had completely stopped sexual activity. Sexuality care was desired by 44% of respondents. Among them, 83% favored a consultation with a medical sexologist and 63% with a psycho-sexologist, 54% wanted couple therapy, and 31% considered support groups. Patients with colorectal cancer had more frequent sexual intercourse without penetration at the time of survey (p = .036) and more often wanted couple therapy than patients with pancreatic cancer (p = .048). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first determination of sexual health and sexual quality of life in digestive cancers. Targets for interventions during chemotherapy for digestive cancers include populations with lower sexual quality of life: women, pancreatic sites, patients with sexual troubles during chemotherapy, and less-educated patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chemotherapy; Digestive cancer; Oncosexology; Quality of life; Sexual health; Supportive care
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