01 / E-HEALTH SUPPORT PROMOTES DIETARY IMPROVEMENTS IN WOMEN PREVIOUSLY TREATED FOR CANCER: RESULTS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WELLNESS AFTER CANCER PROGRAM

e23071 Background: Women report distress over relationships, body image and sexual function after cancer; those < 50 have a 3-times greater risk of sexual dysfunction following treatment. Survivors desire integrated and multifaceted interventions to maintain optimal sexual health. Methods: We employed a mixed-method (concurrent nested) design to identify women’s need for sexual health support after diagnosis. Women 18-50 years old were recruited at a national conference for young survivors and local breast/gynecologic clinics. Qualitative and quantitative assessments identified sexual health factors and support needs most prevalent. Summary statistics and theme analysis using grounded theory was conducted. Results: Participants included 128 women (mean diagnosis age 35.6) and were: married (71%), breast cancer (46%), mastectomy (40%), hysterectomy (30%), chemotherapy (81%), radiation (51%) and completed treatment (67%). Nearly 1/3 of women reported their relationship worsening, 97% contribute it to less sexual activity; 71% were unsatisfied with their sexual relationship compared to before diagnosis. Women (77%) feel their oncologist should discuss sexual health and 74% prefer information prior to treatment. When asked to identify resources 82% desired helpful products/strategies; other desired resources include: written education (65%), medications/lubricants (68%), personal counseling (37%), sex therapist (41%) and local/web-based support groups (36%). When asked to describe their experience with sexual health women reported the following themes: supportive partners, sexual health status, guilt, stolen identity, loss of desire, isolation, treatment side effects, menopause, vaginal changes, maintaining relationships, coping mechanisms, fertility, self-image, grief, intimacy, and desire for oncologist support. Conclusions: Sexual health support after diagnosis is an unmet need that can be integrated into treatment to greatly improve the quality of life for survivors. Women desire their oncologist to provide information before treatment and through survivorship on products/strategies, education, and medications/lubricants to maintain sexual function. Young women do not desire social support resources.

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Physical activity and cognitive changes in younger women after breast cancer treatment

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001876 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 122-125

Author(s):

Melissa Arneil ◽

Debra Anderson ◽

Kimberly Alexander ◽

Alexandra McCarthy

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Breast Cancer Treatment ◽

Younger Women ◽

Previously Treated ◽

After Cancer ◽

Cognitive Alterations ◽

Over Time

ObjectivesStudies indicate women aged 25–49 years previously treated for cancer report cognitive alterations. Good evidence indicates physical activity can be beneficial after cancer and might additionally benefit cognitive function. This short report presents data from a substudy of the Younger Women’s Wellness after Cancer Program (YWWACP), which explored cognitive alterations and investigated potential associations between physical activity and cognitive function in participants in the YWWACP. The primary aim of this substudy was to determine in younger women previously treated for breast cancer (1) whether subjectively reported cognitive function changed over time and (2) if physical activity is associated with subjectively reported cognitive function, and if time had an impact on this.MethodsAll participants had completed breast cancer treatment. Data were collected at baseline (n=41) and at 12 weeks. Measures assessed demographics, self-reported physical activity, cognitive function, sleep quality, stress, anxiety and depression using validated and reliable, subjectively reported instruments.ResultsCognitive function and physical activity scores increased across the time points, with cognitive function revealing a statistically significant increase over time (p=0.004). Statistical testing revealed that physical activity was not correlated with cognitive function and that change in physical activity was not correlated with change in cognitive function.ConclusionThese data provide early evidence that cognitive function and physical activity improved over time in this sample. However, interpretations of a correlation between physical activity and cognitive function should be made with caution, and future research would benefit from larger samples.

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