Journal article
Quality of Life and Sexual Function of Men Who Have Sex With Men Treated for Anal Cancer: A Prospective Trial of a Neglected Population
Journal of sexual medicine, Vol.18(8), pp.1461-1466
08/01/2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.05.015
PMID: 34253473
Abstract
Background: Anal cancer is a rare disease, more prevalent in women. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a high-risk neglected population.
Aim: The primary objective was to assess quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (SxF) among MSM treated with radical chemoradiation for anal cancer. Secondary objectives were to assess survivals and to describe the sexual habits of the target population.
Methods: Prospective single institution trial of MSM who were treated for anal cancer with curative intent between 2015 and 2019. QoL and SxF were the primary end-points and were assessed by validated questionnaires and sexual inventory. Overall survival, locoregional relapse-free, distant metastases free, and colostomy-free survivals were evaluated.
Outcomes: Quality of life and sexual function.
Results: Nineteen patients were accrued between November 2015 and August 2019. Median age was 59.3 years. Stage III disease was 53.4% and mean tumor size was 5.4 cm. Fifteen (79.0%) patients were living with HIV (PLHIV). Median follow-up was 21.8 months. Mean overall survival, locoregional relapse-free survival, distant metastases-free survival, and colostomy-free survival were, respectively, 20.8, 17.2, 19.8 and 17.4 months. No median value was reached. QoL followed a trend among questionnaires with significantly worsened values by the end of treatment and a raise to maximum value by three months after treatment, followed by a stabilization reached at 12 months after treatment. IIEF questionnaire showed moderate erectile dysfunction among the population. Intercourse frequency followed QoL measures.
Clinical Implications: In a MSM population with anal canal cancer, QoL and SxF followed the same pattern up to one year after treatment. Most patients had their SxF compromised during follow-up as shown by IIEF levels and sexual inventory.
Strengths and Limitations: It is a single institution prospective trial with a limited sample size. Nevertheless, there are no studies addressing this minority population, quality of life or otherwise, making it unique and a special contribution for the literature.
Conclusion: Anal cancer and its treatment represent a burden to MSM regarding QoL and SxF. (C) 2021, International Society of Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Quality of Life and Sexual Function of Men Who Have Sex With Men Treated for Anal Cancer: A Prospective Trial of a Neglected Population
- Creators
- Geovanne Pedro Mauro - Universidade de São PauloKarina Gondim Moutinho da Conceicao Vasconcelos - Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Dept Radiotherapy,Inst Canc Estado Sao Paulo ICES, Sao Paulo, BrazilHeloisa de Andrade Carvalho - Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Dept Radiol & Oncol, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of sexual medicine, Vol.18(8), pp.1461-1466
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.05.015
- PMID
- 34253473
- NLM abbreviation
- J Sex Med
- ISSN
- 1743-6095
- eISSN
- 1743-6109
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 6
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Radiation Oncology
- Record Identifier
- 9984914144702771
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