Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T07:52:26.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessing and supporting body image and sexual concerns for young women with breast cancer: a literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2008

Cher Kinamore
Cher Kinamore*
Affiliation:
British Columbia Cancer Agency, Fraser Valley Center, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
*
Correspondence to: Cher Kinamore, 600 10th Avenue West, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4E6, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and most common cancer cause of death in women aged 20–49 years in Canada. Developing a functional definition of ‘young’ is imperative in assessing and providing appropriate emotional support to the unique body image and sexuality concerns facing ‘young’ women with breast cancer. These concerns require proper assessment in order to provide appropriate interventions.

Aims and objectives: To seek a functional definition of ‘young’ and to determine what body image and sexuality assessment tools and interventions are the most appropriate for young women with breast cancer.

Methods: A literature search was undertaken to determine what body image and sexuality assessment tools and interventions are available and relevant to young women with breast cancer. Also, the assessment and interventions available to this patient cohort in the author's clinic were explored.

Conclusions: Body image and sexuality questionnaires encourage young women and health-care providers (HCPs) to openly discuss these issues. Annon's PLISSIT model is an assessment and intervention strategy that enables HCPs to adequately assess and refer young women to suitable programs such as support groups and counsellors. The multi-disciplinary team should provide continuous emotional assessment and support throughout the cancer journey by collaborating to develop the best interventional strategies to the patient and her family.

Keywords

Breast cancerbody imageemotional assessmentpsychological effects of mastectomy
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , September 2008 , pp. 159 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Canadian Cancer Statistics (2006). Available online at URL: http://cancer.ca/vgn/images/portal/cit_86751114/31/21/935505792cw_2006stats_en.pdf.pdfGoogle Scholar
Cancer Care Ontario(2006). Cancer in Young adults in Canada. Available online at URL: www.cancercare.on.ca/pdf/CYAC2006E.pdfGoogle Scholar
Baucom, DH, Porter, LS, Kirby, JS, Gremore, TM, Keefe, FJ.Psychosocial issues confronting young women with breast cancer. Breast Dis 2005; 23:103–113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruner, DW, Boyd, CP. (1999). Assessing women's sexuality after cancer therapy: Checking assumptions with the focus group technique. Cancer Nurs 1999; 22:438–447.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barni, S, Mondin, R.Sexual dysfunction in treated breast cancer patients. Ann Oncol 1997; 8:149–153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anllo, LM. (2000). Sexual life after breast cancer. J Sex Marital Ther 2000; 26:241–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ganz, PA, Rowland, KA, Desmond, KA, Meyerowitz, BE, Wyatt, GE.Life after breast cancer: understanding women's health-related quality of life and sexual functioning. J Clin Oncol 1998; 16:501–514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McKenney, SA.The role of the nurse practitioner in the care of young women with breast cancer. Breast Dis 2005; 23:115–121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brennan, M, French, J, Nehmat, H, Kirk, J, Boyages, J.Breast cancer in young women. Aust Fam Physician 2005; 34:851–855.Google ScholarPubMed
Connell, S, Patterson, C, Newman, B.Issues and concerns of young Australian women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer 2006; 14:419–426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schover, LR.Sexuality and body image in younger women with breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1994; 16:177–182.Google Scholar
Spencer, SM, Lehman, JM, Wynings, C, Arena, P, Carver, CS, Antoni, MH, Derhagopian, RP, Ironson, G, Love, N.Concerns about breast cancer and relations to psychological well-being in a multiethnic sample of early-stage patients. Health Psychol 1999; 18:159–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ganz, PA, Greendale, GA, Petersen, L, Kahn, B, Bower, JE.Breast cancer in younger women: Reproductive and late health effects of treatment. J Clin Oncol 2003; 21:4184–4193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dunn, J, Steginga, SK.Young women's experience of breast cancer: defining young and identifying concerns. Pyschooncology 2000; 9:137–146.3.0.CO;2-0>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrell, BR, Dow, KH, Leigh, S, Ly, J, Gulasekaram, P.Quality of life in long-term cancer survivors. Oncol Nurs Forum 1995; 22:915–922.Google ScholarPubMed
Carver, CS, Pozo-Kaderman, C, Price, AA, Noriega, V, Harris, S, Derhagopian, RP, Robinson, DS, Moffat, FL Jr.Concern about aspects of body image and adjustment to early stage breast cancer. Psychosom Med 1998;60:168–174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burton, M, Watson, M.Counselling People with Cancer. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1998.Google Scholar
Annon, J.The PLISSIT model: a proposed conceptual scheme for behavioral treatment of sexual problems. J Sex Ed Ther 1976; 2:1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Northouse, LL.Breast cancer in younger women: effects on interpersonal and family relationships. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1984; 16:183–190.Google Scholar
Dow, KH, Lafferty, P. Quality of life, survivorship, and psychosocial adjustment of young women with breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy. Oncol Nurs Forum 2000; 27:1555–1564.Google ScholarPubMed
Oh, JL, Bonnen, M, Outlaw, ED et al. . The impact of young age on locoregional recurrence after doxorubicin-based breast conservation therapy in patients 40 years old or younger: how young in “young”? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2006;65:1345–1352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schover, LR.The impact of breast cancer on sexuality, body image, and intimate relationships. CA Cancer J Clin 1991; 41:112–120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lamb, MA.Effects of cancer on the sexuality and fertility of women. Semin Oncol Nurs 1995; 11:120–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barton, D, Wildwerding, M, Carpenter, L, Loprinzi, C.Libido as part of sexuality in female cancer survivors. Oncol Nurs Forum 2004; 31:599–609.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lagana, L, McGarvey, EL, Classen, C, Koopman, C.Psychosexual dysfunction among gynecological cancer survivors. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2001; 8:73–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilmoth, MC.The aftermath of breast cancer: an altered sexual self. Cancer Nursing 2001; 24:278–286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chilman, CS.Some psychosocial aspects of female sexuality. Fam Coord 1974; 23:123–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Avis, NE, Crawford, S, Manuel, J.Psychosocial problems among younger women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 2004; 9:295–308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ganz, PA, Greendale, GA, Peterson, L, Zibecchi, L, Kahn, B, Belin, TR.Managing menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2000; 92:1054–1064.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilmoth, MC, Coleman, EA, Smith, SC, Davis, C.Fatigue, weight gain, and altered sexuality in patients with breast cancer: Exploration of a symptom cluster. Oncol Nurs Forum 2004; 31:1069–1075.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Polivy, J.Psychological effects of mastectomy on woman's feminine self-concept. J Nerv Ment Dis 1977; 164:77–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bloom, JR, Stewart, SL, Johnston, M, Banks, P.Intrusiveness of illness and quality of life in young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 1998; 7:89–100.3.0.CO;2-E>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Metcalfe, KA, Esplen, MJ, Goel, V, Narod, SA.Psychosocial functioning in women who have undergone bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. Psychooncology 2004; 13:4–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baxter, NN, Goodwin, PJ, Mcleod, RS, Dion, R, Devins, G, Bombardier, C.Reliability and validity of the body image after breast cancer questionnaire. Breast J 2006; 12:221–232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baxter, NN, Goodwin, PJ, Devins, G, Toner, B, Dion, R, McGowan, T, McLeod, RS, Bombardier, C. The body image after breast cancer questionnaire. The design and testing of a disease specific measure (Meeting abstract). ASCO Annual Meeting, 1998.Google Scholar
Vogt, DS, King, DW, King, LA.Focus groups in psychological assessment: Enhancing content validity by consulting members of the target population. Psychol Assess 2004;16:231–243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer, London; 2004. Available online at URL: www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/csgspmanual.pdfGoogle Scholar
Bloom, JR, Stewart, SL, Johnston, M, Banks, P, Fobair, P.Sources of support and the physical and mental well-being of young women with breast cancer. Soc Sci Med 2001; 53:1513–1524.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, MK.Sexuality and the cancer survivor: a silent coexistence. Cancer Nurs 2000; 23:477–482.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schover, LR.Counseling cancer patients about changes in sexual function. Oncology (Williston Park) 1999; 13:1585–1591.Google ScholarPubMed
Wong-Kim, EC, Bloom, JR.Depression experienced by young women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Psychooncology 2005; 14:564–573.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fobair, P, Stewart, SL, Chang, S, D'Onofrio, C, Banks, PJ, Bloom, JR.Body image and sexual problems in young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology 2006; 15:579–594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stanton, AL, Danoff-Burg, S, Cameron, CL, Snider, PR, Kirk, SB.Social comparison and adjustment to breast cancer: an examination of upward affiliation and downward evaluation. Health Psychol 1999; 18:151–158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marcus, AC, Garrett, KG, Cella, D, Wenzel, LB, Brady, MJ, Crane, LA, McClatchey, M, Kluhsman, B, Pate-Willig, M.Telephone counseling of breast cancer patients after treatment: a description of a randomized clinical trial. Psychooncology 1998; 7:470–482.3.0.CO;2-Z>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walsh, SR, Manual, JC, Avis, NE.The impact of breast cancer on younger women's relationships with their partner and children. Families, Systems, and Health 2005; 23:80–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Look Good Feel Better®. Available online at URL: www.lgfb.ca/Google Scholar
BC Cancer Agency (2007). Coping with cancer. Available online at URL: www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/copingwithcancer/default.htmGoogle Scholar
Ganz, PA, Greendale, GA, Peterson, L, Zibecchi, L, Khan, B, Belin, TR.Managing menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Results of a randomized controlled trial. J Natil Cancer Inst 2000; 2:1054–1064.CrossRefGoogle Scholar