A number of studies surveying breast cancer survivors have documented the impact of breast cancer diagnosis and breast cancer treatment on sexual function, sexual feeling, and sexual self-image. Women with breast cancer may experience loss of sexual desire, decreased arousability, diminished orgasmic capacity, impaired vaginal physiology, depression, and a lessened sense of “femaleness.” Untreated sexual problems negatively affect intimate relationships, self-confidence, and physical well-being. Addressing the issue of sexual function before cancer treatment begins alerts the patient to the clinician's interest in this aspect of survivorship and increases the chance that the patient will bring future sexual problems to the attention of the treatment team. Depending on the nature of the problem and the disease context, interventions are available for treatment of sexual problems in breast cancer survivors. These include vaginal moisturizers, lubricants, medications or psychological therapy to alleviate depression-related sexual dysfunction, and couples therapy to address sexual and more general issues.
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Hahn, K.M.E. (2008). Sexuality and Breast Cancer Survivorship. In: Hunt, K.K., Robb, G.L., Strom, E.A., Ueno, N.T. (eds) Breast Cancer 2nd edition. M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34952-7_19
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