"..det är en väldigt stor sak egentligen" Strategier vid sexuella konsekvenser av cancerbehandling. Förväntningar på sexualitet och rehabilitering.
Magnusson, A. ??it?s a matter of great importance actually?. Coping strategies to sexual consequences due to cancer treatment. Expectations on sexuality and rehabilitation. Malmö University: Faculty of Health and Society, 2009.
Abstract
Background: An increasing number of people in Sweden are living with the experience of either having or having had cancer. Earlier research describes extensive sexual dysfunction and a lack of aid and information to cancer patients and their partners.
Aim and method: The aim with this study is to explore how sexuality is affected by cancer treatment and to elucidate if specific strategies are developed by patients to manage sexuality and how medical service can give support and help. Two focus group discussions and five interviews was accomplished with ten informants during March and April 2009
Results: All ten informants have had sexual changes as a result of cancer treatment. Sexuality had been given new expressions regarding to individual limitations. Not everybody had remaining problems but information and rehabilitation was described as insufficient or none existing. The informants had several unanswered questions but also suggestions how to improve rehabilitation.
Analysis and conclusion: The construction of sexuality in cancer disease is complex. On one hand sexual changes like impotence or pain is a reminder about existence and death. On the other hand an increased feeling of intimacy was depicted and also a higher capability of mindfulness was reported during sex. A variety of different coping strategies was used to reach meaningfulness and new constructions were made concerning sexuality whereupon the experience of quality of life was changed.