6. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
SEXUAL PROBLEMS IN INDIVIDUALS AFTER BREAST CANCER SURGERY: A TRADITIONAL REVIEW
Yazarlar:
Tuğbanur GUMUS
Özge ISERI
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide, affecting almost 1.5 million every year. Although medical and surgical treatments have positive effects on patient survival, they also cause many problems for individuals and deeply affect their physical, mental health and sociocultural lives. One of the most important problems for individuals after breast surgery, is sexual dysfunctions. In most societies and cultures, the breast is recognised as a female organ and is seen as the most important component in the formation of a woman's identity. Therefore, being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing surgery for cancer may cause changes in self-image, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression, lack of social support, and disruptions in roles and relationships. These may also develop due to the treatment, type of surgery, emotional processes, perceived unattractiveness or lack of femininity, perception that the partner will not accept the individual's body after surgery, and decreased self-confidence. Studies conducted in many countries have also revealed that women's sexual functioning is affected by these reasons, especially after mastectomy. After breast cancer surgery, women often experience problems in various parts of the sexual cycle such as desire, arousal and satisfaction related to sexual activity. Studies have also determined that women mostly experience sexual problems such as decreased sexual desire and mental arousal, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia. Although this problem is common, it is not sufficiently addressed and treatment and care are provided without a multidisciplinary perspective. However, studies have emphasised that sexual problems of women with partners should be solved with evidence-based interventions and that breast care nurses have important roles at this point. Therefore, it is thought that counselling and informing patients by breast care nurses will increase sexual functions, satisfaction and improve quality of life.
