| Description |
The pathology, disease process and treatment options/modalities in the management of cancers affecting the female reproductive system (CAFRS), which includes gynecologic cancers (uterine, ovarian, cervical and vaginal malignancies) as well as breast cancers, have been widely shown to adversely affect body image, sexuality, sexual functioning and overall sexual health(Bakker et al., 2017; De Almeida et al., 2020; & Albers et al., 2020). Female reproductive cancer treatment modalities include surgical interventions (partial or total removal of malignant reproductive organs, reconstructions or preventative -ectomies; mastectomy, salpingectomy,oophorectomy and hysterectomy), medical interventions (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy) and radiation therapy, or a combination of them, and have all been shown to have drastic effects on sexual/reproductive health, sexual identity/body image and sexual functioning (Albers et al., 2020; Maleki et al., 2021; Wilson et al, 2020; & Uysal et al., 2018). Recent studies show that these issues of sexual health, sexuality, body image and sexual dysfunction (following diagnosis and treatment of cancers affecting female reproductive organs) are well documented in survivors across age groups, ethnic groups, nationality and socio-economic groups and they greatly impact survivorship outcomes, overall health and quality of life (QOL) (Harris, 2019; Albers et al., 2020; Bagherzadeh et al., 2021; Campbell et al., 2019; & De Almeida et al., 2020). Among the existing bio-psychosocial frameworks that have been used to describe the interrelatedness of sexuality, body image and sexual functioning (The Sexual Health Triad) in survivors of cancers affecting female reproductive organs, the novel conceptual framework adopted by Wilson et al, (2020), shows the interrelatedness of body image, sexuality and sexual functioning and how they are impacted by the pathological process of disease, treatment modalities of the specific type and stage of malignancy as well as the individual/personal characteristics of the woman diagnosed with gynecological cancer. |
