Sexual dysfunction is a common problem for cancer survivors, and nurses can be a part of the solution by addressing this issue, educating themselves, and joining with other health professionals who care about patients’ sexual health, said Don Dizon, MD, Medical Gynecologic Oncologist and Director of the Oncology Sexual Health Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, at the 2016 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting.
“Nurses and nurse practitioners can be the ones who make a difference in their patients’ lives. Nurses can be proactive. Oncologists are often disease focused and treatment focused, and sexual issues get pushed to the side,” Dr Dizon told The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA.
Patients should be told before treatment that a diagnosis of cancer and its treatment can affect their sex life. Then when they experience problems, it won’t be a surprise.
“Nurses need to be proactive about asking patients about their sexual health. Patients will not volunteer this information if not asked,” he continued.
When raising the issue, normalize it, Dr Dizon advised. “Say something like, ‘Sexual problems are common among cancer survivors. What is your experience?’” he suggested.
“Once you show interest and normalize the discussion, it can be very powerful for patients. I’ve heard many patients say they experience a huge relief and don’t feel so isolated. It’s good for them to know they are not the only ones facing these issues,” he said.
Common Problems
The obvious problems that arise with cancer treatment include vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse for women, and erectile dysfunction for men. However, there are also some not-so-obvious problems, such as a loss of sensation in the residual breast (or the chest wall) for breast cancer survivors.
The breast is an erogenous zone for most women, and they may not be prepared for this effect. Men with prostate cancer and other types of cancer may also struggle with arousal.
“In fact, cancer disrupts the normal cycle of desire, arousal, and fulfillment, which may not make sense to patients,” Dr Dizon said. These changes can lead to a lack of intimacy.
Men can be frightened by the journey of a woman with cancer. Once the partner’s treatment is over, men may need to move forward, and part of that includes restarting their sexual lives.
Men experience intimacy through sexual intercourse, whereas for women, intimacy is not solely tied to intercourse. The process of rediscovery and finding a “new normal” can take 1 year or longer for women, which is something their partners may not recognize. So men and women are often not on the same page at the end of active treatment, Dr Dizon explained.
“One of the most important things to talk about with a couple is to define what intimacy means to that couple,” Dr Dizon stated.
Sexual Health Education
At the very least, any cancer center should have a library of books and articles on sexual health in cancer survivors. Nurses who are interested in helping patients can read this literature, and patients may want to read books and articles as well.
Some authors who have written about this topic, in addition to Dr Dizon, include Anne Katz, PhD, RN, FAAN, Sex Counselor, CancerCare Manitoba, Canada, and Michael Krychman, Executive Director, Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, Newport Beach, CA.
If possible, nurses should attend conferences on the subject, and attend sessions at large cancer meetings that are devoted to sexual health, Dr Dizon advised.
Patients can also take advantage of Internet-based tools, including the new website, Will2Love.com, developed by Leslie Schover, RN, PhD, former Professor of Behavioral Science, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s website, Cancer.net, also has some information. Counselors versed in cancer-specific sexual health may not be easy to find in most areas of the country, except in academic or comprehensive cancer centers.
In his presentation at ASTRO, Dr Dizon suggested the acronym PLISSIT for nurses and other healthcare professionals:
To sign up for our newsletter or print publications, please enter your contact information below.
