Sexuality: a quality-of-life issue for cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of the broad, multidimensional construct of sexuality addressing physiologic, psychological, and social dimensions.

DATA SOURCES: Research articles, abstracts, standards of care, international reports.

CONCLUSION

Multiple insults to the physiologic, psychological, and social dimensions of sexuality can occur following the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The incidence of altered sexuality in cancer survivors is high, long lasting, and can diminish the quality of life of both the cancer survivor and the sexual partner. Additional research is needed to address these alterations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses and other health care professions can begin to help cancer survivors adapt to changes in sexuality related to cancer and cancer treatment by initiating a discussion of sexuality at the time of diagnosis and throughout the trajectory of disease.