Body image and sexual dysfunctions: comparison between breast cancer patients and healthy women

AbstractBreast cancer is one of the most common diseases which affect too many women each year. Because of decreasing mortality rates due to this kind of cancer and the increasing number of young survivors, it is very important to study more about the disease and its consequences in the young group.In order to compare sexual dysfunctions and body image issues in breast cancer patients with healthy women, a sample of 20 women were selected for both groups. The general inclusion criteria for both groups were: age below 50, menstruating, being married and sexually active, and not having a history of cervical problems or surgery, living with husband. Additional criteria for cancer group were mastectomy for at least one of the breasts and finishing of chemotherapy. Two questionnaires Multiple Body Self Relationships Questionnaire and Female Sexual Index were administered for both groups. Results showed that there is not a significant difference between overall sexual functioning score but the difference between Sexual Desire, Sexual Arousal, Satisfaction and pain subscales were statistically significant. A significant difference was also found for Body Image in all subscales except Subjective Weight subscale