Study Reveals Majority of Cancer Patients Experience Sexual Dysfunction Post Treatment

JAKARTA - Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatment, and it often makes patients feel very disturbed. Almost 85 percent of cancer patients say that cancer has a negative impact on sexual health. However, only a small percentage of patients report that their medical team has ever started a conversation about this.

Sexual dysfunction can be experienced by patients with all types of cancer, although often only patients with cancer that directly affects the sexual or reproductive organs are asked about this.

Disorders that affect sexuality and intimacy are usually multifactorial, meaning there are many factors that can affect sexual desire and intimacy, including:

- Side effects of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation

- Physical discomfort after surgery or radiation

- Damage to the nerve fibers in the sexual organs

- Fatigue

- Nausea

- Decreased libido due to hormone therapy

- Erectile dysfunction after surgery

Psychological factors also play an important role, because anxiety during treatment or dissatisfaction with body image can lower sexual desire.

This problem can persist for years after treatment. Research shows that 50 percent of men and 80 percent of women who undergo stem cell transplants experience sexual dysfunction, with 20-49 percent of men and 40-71 percent of women reporting being sexually inactive between 1 to 5 years after transplantation.

However, most patients still do not receive education or support to cope with these side effects after transplantation.

To help overcome this challenge, a group of researchers conducted a pilot trial using a multimodal mobile application to help blood cancer patients who experience stress due to sexual dysfunction several months after stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Betty K. Hamilton of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute who was not involved in the study wrote an editorial in JNCCN on this important topic and its impact on cancer survivors. He praised the research team for finding a new way to deal with this often overlooked side effect.

"The longer patients live with cancer, the more important it is to address quality of life issues such as sexual health," said Dr. Hamilton, quoted from the Cleveland Clinic website.

"Some medical professionals may be reluctant to discuss it because they feel uncomfortable, but this study emphasizes the importance of talking about sexual health, even in complex patient populations, and shows that this is very possible," he explained.

In this study, patients were randomly assigned to access a digital app called SHIFT or receive enhanced usual care, consisting of sessions with a stem cell transplant doctor and educational materials.

The app is a visual tool that guides patients through a variety of biological, interpersonal, social, and psychological issues. With gamification and intimacy exercises, the app offers techniques that patients and their partners can try privately at home.

The results of the study showed that this intervention provided positive results, including increased sexual interest, more satisfaction from sexual experiences, lower levels of sex-related anxiety, and improved quality of life.

Dr. Hamilton emphasized the importance of normalizing sexual health support.

"Don't be afraid to talk about it, just like other symptoms. Problems after treatment are usually best handled from the start. It's never too early to discuss this topic, even if it's just giving patients a brief education that treatment can affect libido and there are resources to help." he said.

For doctors who are new to this topic, it may take some time to get used to having these kinds of discussions.

"Like any other difficult conversation, it takes practice, and it won't always be perfect every time," Dr. Hamilton said.

"The point is that patients want their medical staff to discuss this issue." he continued.