Concerns in Breast Cancer Survivors with respect to Sexual Function,Sexual Satisfaction and Distress: A Sequential Explanatory Study

This study aims to identify the level of sexual function and sexual distress among Breast

cancer Survivors and to better understand their individualistic sexual concerns from the

perspective of the survivor, their partner. The study will also provide an insight into the

sexual concerns of Breast cancer Survivors from the perspective of oncologists.

The primary objectives of the study are to assess the Sexual Function, Sexual Satisfaction and

Distress among Breast Cancer Survivors and to better understand the sexual concerns of

Breast Cancer Survivors from the perspective of the survivors, their partners, and the

oncologists. The study is a mixed method study using Sequential Explanatory method - both

Quantitative and Qualitative research methods in a sequential manner. The sample size for the

descriptive study is 115 Breast Cancer Survivors belonging to the age group of 21-65 years

and have completed curative intent treatment for Breast Cancer in Malabar Cancer Centre.

The data for the qualitative part of the study will be conducted until data saturation. The tools

Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Sexual Satisfaction Scale (SSS) will be used for

the quantitative part of the study. The qualitative data will be collected using a semi

structured interview.

The inclusion criteria for the quantitative study are Married/live-in women, living with

Partner for the last 2 months, Completed at least 6 months after curative intent treatmentfor

breast cancer (Stage I, II, III), Should have been sexually active before diagnosis, Can read,

speak, and understand either English or Malayalam. Those with known history of psychiatric

illness or neurological disorder, relapse, recurrence, or second primary, metachronous

Bilateral Breast Cancer will be excluded. The survivors who secured a score less than 55 in

FSFI is eligible for qualitative study. Partners of the participant included in the qualitative

study who can read, speak, and understand either English or Malayalam will be eligible.

Consultant Surgical Oncologists, Gynaec-Oncologists, Medical Oncologists,Radiation

Oncologists with an experience of treating breast cancer patients and a minimum 2 years of

experience at Cancer Centers will be eligible for qualitative study.

Descriptive Statistical techniques such as the Mean, Standard deviation, Correlation

coefficient and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to analyse the

quantitative data. The descriptive data collected from the participants through in-depth

interview will be analysed using, thematic analysis.