For cancer patients, sexual dysfunction is often a long-term side effect of treatment, and can have a significant impact on quality of life. To better understand long-term sexual dysfunction in cancer patients, and develop therapies tailored to their needs, researchers from Duke University argue that there is a “need for a flexible, psychometrically robust measure of sexual function for use in oncology settings.” To that end, the researchers conducted a focus-group based study with cancer patients and cancer survivors to learn more about which aspects of treatment have the most detrimental impact, and how, despite these drawbacks, many patients say they have experienced more fulfilling sexual intimacy after beating cancer.
