Sexual Health Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review from the Children's Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Discipline Committee

Overview

Journal CA Cancer J Clin

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Oncology

Date 2020 Dec 7

PMID 33283888

Citations 28

Authors

Brooke Cherven

Amani Sampson

Sharon L Bober

Kristin Bingen

Natasha Frederick

David R Freyer

Gwendolyn P Quinn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sexual function is a vital aspect of quality of life among adolescent and young adult (AYA) (ages 15-39 years) cancer survivors. Sexual function encompasses physical, psychosocial, and developmental factors that contribute to sexual health, all of which may be negatively impacted by cancer and treatment. However, limited information is available to inform the care of AYA cancer survivors in this regard. This scoping review, conducted by the Children's Oncology Group AYA Oncology Discipline Committee, summarizes available literature regarding sexual function among AYA cancer survivors, including relevant psychosexual aspects of romantic relationships and body image. Results suggest that, overall, AYA cancer survivors experience a substantial burden of sexual dysfunction. Both physical and psychosocial sequelae influence survivors' sexual health. Interventions to support sexual health and psychosexual adjustment after cancer treatment are needed. Collaborations between the Children's Oncology Group and adult-focused cooperative groups within the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network are warranted to advance prospective assessment of sexual dysfunction and test interventions to improve sexual health among AYA cancer survivors.

Citing Articles

Exploring how attachment insecurities mediate the link between sexual and partnership satisfaction in adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Heyne S, Brock H, Richter D, Sender A, Rosendahl J, Friedrich M Acta Oncol. 2025; 64:96-104.

PMID: 39838694 PMC: 11776256. DOI: 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42110.

Sexual dysfunction among long-term survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hanzlik E, Sabin N, Yoshida T, Delaney A, Xie L, Darji H Cancer. 2024; 131(1):e35637.

PMID: 39511924 PMC: 11695136. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35637.

Research progress on sexual functioning and associated factors in childhood cancer survivors: a scoping review.

Yang F, Ho K, Yorke J, Lam K, Liu Q, Guo L EClinicalMedicine. 2024; 73:102695.

PMID: 39050584 PMC: 11266477. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102695.

Survivorship after adolescent and young adult cancer: models of care, disparities, and opportunities.

Berkman A, Betts A, Beauchemin M, Parsons S, Freyer D, Roth M J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024; 116(9):1417-1428.

PMID: 38833671 PMC: 11378318. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae119.

Meaningful Patient Engagement in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Research: A Framework for Qualitative Studies.

Oveisi N, Cheng V, Taylor D, Bechthold H, Barnes M, Jansen N Curr Oncol. 2024; 31(4):1689-1700.

PMID: 38668031 PMC: 11049004. DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31040128.

References

Arnett J . Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000; 55(5):469-80. View

van de Wiel H, Hoekstra H, Sleijfer D, van Driel M, van Basten J, Schraffordt Koops H . Sexual functioning after treatment for testicular cancer--review and meta-analysis of 36 empirical studies between 1975-2000. Arch Sex Behav. 2001; 30(1):55-74. DOI: 10.1023/a:1026468707362. View

Johnson R . AYA in the USA. International Perspectives on AYAO, Part 5. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2014; 2(4):167-174. PMC: 3869433. DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2012.0027. View

Olsson M, Steineck G, Enskar K, Wilderang U, Jarfelt M . Sexual function in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors-a population-based study. J Cancer Surviv. 2018; 12(4):450-459. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-018-0684-x. View

Frederick N, Campbell K, Kenney L, Moss K, Speckhart A, Bober S . Barriers and facilitators to sexual and reproductive health communication between pediatric oncology clinicians and adolescent and young adult patients: The clinician perspective. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018; 65(8):e27087. DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27087. View

Stanton A, Handy A, Meston C . Sexual function in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review. J Cancer Surviv. 2017; 12(1):47-63. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-017-0643-y. View

Carpentier M, Fortenberry J . Romantic and sexual relationships, body image, and fertility in adolescent and young adult testicular cancer survivors: a review of the literature. J Adolesc Health. 2010; 47(2):115-25. PMC: 2907366. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.04.005. View

Lof C, Winiarski J, Giesecke A, Ljungman P, Forinder U . Health-related quality of life in adult survivors after paediatric allo-SCT. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008; 43(6):461-8. DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2008.338. View

Weiss A, Nichols C, Freyer D . Enhancing Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Research Within the National Clinical Trials Network: Rationale, Progress, and Emerging Strategies. Semin Oncol. 2015; 42(5):740-7. PMC: 4604069. DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2015.07.012. View

10.

Thompson A, Marsland A, Marshal M, Tersak J . Romantic relationships of emerging adult survivors of childhood cancer. Psychooncology. 2008; 18(7):767-74. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1471. View

11.

Jervaeus A, Nilsson J, Eriksson L, Lampic C, Widmark C, Wettergren L . Exploring childhood cancer survivors' views about sex and sexual experiences -findings from online focus group discussions. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2015; 20:165-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2015.07.009. View

12.

Carter J, Raviv L, Applegarth L, Ford J, Josephs L, Grill E . A cross-sectional study of the psychosexual impact of cancer-related infertility in women: third-party reproductive assistance. J Cancer Surviv. 2010; 4(3):236-46. PMC: 3701949. DOI: 10.1007/s11764-010-0121-2. View

13.

Zebrack B, Foley S, Wittmann D, Leonard M . Sexual functioning in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Psychooncology. 2009; 19(8):814-22. PMC: 2888926. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1641. View

14.

Carter J, Lacchetti C, Andersen B, Barton D, Bolte S, Damast S . Interventions to Address Sexual Problems in People With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2017; 36(5):492-511. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.8995. View

15.

Frederick N, Recklitis C, Blackmon J, Bober S . Sexual Dysfunction in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016; 63(9):1622-8. DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26041. View

16.

Bober S, Zhou E, Chen B, Manley P, Kenney L, Recklitis C . Sexual function in childhood cancer survivors: a report from Project REACH. J Sex Med. 2013; 10(8):2084-93. DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12193. View

17.

Geue K, Schmidt R, Sender A, Sauter S, Friedrich M . Sexuality and romantic relationships in young adult cancer survivors: satisfaction and supportive care needs. Psychooncology. 2015; 24(11):1368-76. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3805. View

18.

Nahata L, Morgan T, Lipak K, Olshefski R, Gerhardt C, Lehmann V . Romantic Relationships and Physical Intimacy Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2020; 9(3):359-366. PMC: 7869868. DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2019.0114. View

19.

Martelli H, Borrego P, Guerin F, Boubnova J, Minard-Colin V, Dumas I . Quality of life and functional outcome of male patients with bladder-prostate rhabdomyosarcoma treated with conservative surgery and brachytherapy during childhood. Brachytherapy. 2016; 15(3):306-311. DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2016.01.001. View

20.

Rosenberg A, Bona K, Ketterl T, Wharton C, Wolfe J, Baker K . Intimacy, Substance Use, and Communication Needs During Cancer Therapy: A Report From the "Resilience in Adolescents and Young Adults" Study. J Adolesc Health. 2016; 60(1):93-99. PMC: 5228591. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.08.017. View