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State of the science of sexual health among older cancer survivors: an integrative review

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Abstract

Purpose

Sexual health is important for quality of life among older (≥65 years) cancer survivors. Yet, little is known about the extent to which their sexual health has been studied.

Methods

In this integrative review, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for data-based articles of sexual health among older cancer survivors. Using a matrix, study characteristics, including cancer types and areas of sexual health, were categorized.

Results

The sample included 82 articles (81 studies). The areas of sexual health were categorized into sexual function, body image, sexual function-related distress, sexual health-related quality of life, sexual activity, sexual enjoyment, and sexual desire. Most targeted prostate cancer (n = 56, 69.1%) and studied sexual function, e.g., erectile function (n = 53, 94.6%). Body image (n = 16, 19.8%) was next frequently studied, targeting women with breast cancer. Measures to assess areas of sexual health, largely unstandardized, varied widely. Generally, older cancer survivors reported negative changes in sexual function and other areas during and after cancer treatment.

Conclusions

Studies of sexual health among older cancer survivors have been focused primarily on prostate cancer, male, and sexual function. Together with the lack of standardized sexual health measures validated for older adults, this narrow research focus contributes to the limited body of knowledge regarding sexual health among older cancer survivors.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Given that cancer and cancer treatment affect both men and women and many aspects of sexual health beyond functioning, broadening the scope of sexual health and cancer type is warranted for future research.

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Data availability

Because this review conducted a narrative synthesis of existing studies, no datasets were generated.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Center for Nursing Excellence in Palliative Care at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, but the content is solely the responsibility of the authors. The authors would like to thank Ms. Sharon Leslie, a nursing informationist at Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, for her assistance with the search string development.

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    Haerim Lee & Mi-Kyung Song

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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. H.L. performed literature search and data analysis, wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and critically revised the work. M.K.S. supervised this study throughout the preparation of the manuscript. The authors reviewed and edited previous versions of the manuscript and read and approved the final manuscript.

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Lee, H., Song, MK. State of the science of sexual health among older cancer survivors: an integrative review. J Cancer Surviv (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-024-01541-2

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