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Sexual Consequences of Cancer and Its Treatment in Adolescents and Young Adults

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Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults

Part of the book series: Pediatric Oncology ((PEDIATRICO))

Abstract

Sexual difficulties arising from cancer and its treatment remain a neglected aspect of survivorship within the adolescent and younger adult age group. This life stage is important in the development of sexual identity and orientation, sexual expression and function and intimate relationship formation. Hence, the impact of serious illness and treatment can be highly disruptive, leading to immediate- and longer-term/delayed physical, psychological, interpersonal and thus psychosexual consequences.

This chapter adopts a biopsychosocial model to address the aetiology, assessment and management of commonly encountered sexual difficulties in AYA oncology, including loss of sexual interest (desire), sexual pain, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory and orgasmic changes.

The chapter concludes with recommendations for improved service provision within cancer centres and a greater focus on intervention research to raise the profile and standards of care for this aspect of people’s recovery and lives after cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse Consultant, University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Louise Soanes

  2. Clinical Research Fellow in Psychosexual Practice,Psychological Support Service, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London & Surrey, UK

    Isabel D. White

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  1. Louise Soanes
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  2. Isabel D. White
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Correspondence to Louise Soanes .

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  1. Bend, Oregon, USA

    Archie Bleyer

  2. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Ronald Barr

  3. RiesSearch LLC, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Lynn Ries

  4. University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Jeremy Whelan

  5. Pediatric Oncology Unit, National Tumor Institute, Milano, Italy

    Andrea Ferrari

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Soanes, L., White, I.D. (2017). Sexual Consequences of Cancer and Its Treatment in Adolescents and Young Adults. In: Bleyer, A., Barr, R., Ries, L., Whelan, J., Ferrari, A. (eds) Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults. Pediatric Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33679-4_24

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