Addressing Women’s Sexual Health During Breast Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Dec 18, 2021

In this episode of SurgOnc Today®,  Dr. Jennifer Plichta is joined by Dr. Ann Partridge and Dr. Kristin Rojas to discuss practical pearls for addressing women’s sexual health concerns during breast cancer treatment and prevention using case-based discussions to illustrate common scenarios that breast surgeons may encounter in their clinic. These may include managing sexual health concerns in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting, as well as how to approach symptom management for patients seen in a high-risk program.

Jennifer Plichta, MD, MS is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Duke University

Ann Partridge, MD, MPH is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Vice Chair of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Kristin Rojas, MD is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center 

References:

1. ASCO Guideline: Carter J, Lacchetti C, Anderson B, et al. Interventions to Address Sexual Problems in People With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2018 36:5, 492-511https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2017.75.8995
2. ACOG Supports Use of Vaginal Estrogen in Breast Cancer Survivors: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2016/02/acog-supports-the-use-of-estrogen-for-breast-cancer-survivors
   1. Dew JE, Wren BG, Eden JA. A cohort study of topical vaginal estrogen therapy in women previously treated for breast cancer. Climacteric. 2003 Mar;6(1):45-52. PMID: 12725664.
   2. Le Ray I, Dell'Aniello S, Bonnetain F, Azoulay L, Suissa S. Local estrogen therapy and risk of breast cancer recurrence among hormone-treated patients: a nested case-control study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Sep;135(2):603-9. doi: 10.1007/s10549-012-2198-y. Epub 2012 Aug 19. PMID: 22903687.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10549-012-2198-y
3. Studies on Risk of Recurrence With Vaginal Estrogen: 
4. American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT): https://www.aasect.org/
5. PROSE Study: Rebbeck TR, Friebel T, Wagner T, et a. Effect of short-term hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk reduction after bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: the PROSE Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Nov 1;23(31):7804-10. doi:10.1200/JCO.2004.00.8151. Epub 2005 Oct 11. PMID: 16219936.