For immediate release
Breaking the silence
28 September 2011 – A new study commissioned by Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) has revealed the true impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on women’s sexual wellbeing. The organisation has created a comprehensive new resource, Breast Cancer and Sexual Wellbeing, available in October, to help both women with breast cancer and the health professionals who care for them.
In commissioning the research and developing the information booklet, BCNA recognises that sexual wellbeing is intrinsically linked with self-esteem, body image, intimacy, relationships, and a woman’s overall wellbeing and should therefore always be considered as part of the overall management of a woman’s breast cancer.
The research, commissioned by BCNA and conducted by the University of Western Sydney, surveyed 2210 people with breast cancer around Australia. A separate survey was completed by 159 health professionals. The research findings, along with extensive consumer consultations, were used to inform the development of the new booklet.
Michelle Marven, National Policy Manager BCNA said that sexual wellbeing is often overlooked when women are diagnosed with breast cancer or undergoing treatment, yet it is an area that is so crucial to their overall health. “This study provides overwhelming new evidence indicating that sexual wellbeing is an area that is too often ignored, leaving women feeling isolated and alone as a result.
“The findings indicate an urgent need for more information and better support in this area, both for the women who are experiencing breast cancer and the health professionals who are treating them.
“To help women and health professionals better navigate this often difficult issue, BCNA has now developed a comprehensive booklet, Breast Cancer and Sexual Wellbeing which will be available in printed format and on BCNA’s website. This important new resource offers women strategies and practical advice on how to manage the issue and provides health professionals with some guidance on how to start the discussion with their patients,” Ms Marven said.
Breast cancer survivor Samantha diCicco reflects on her experience: “My body resembled a battle zone. A war I had won but not without casualties. It wasn’t the body I grew up with, the one I’d grown to love, the one my husband loved. Sexual wellbeing was something that was never discussed or brought up with any of my doctors during my surgeries or treatments. I needed information, something or someone that my husband and I could turn to and find out what we could do physically, as well as emotionally, to get us through this. No doctors were willing to ask me outright, ‘Do you need any support in your sexual relationship during this time?’”
BCNA’s Breast Cancer and Sexual Wellbeing booklet is now available for download from the website (www.bcna.org.au) or a hard copy can be obtained by calling 1800 500 258. The Executive Summary of the research is also available on BCNA’s website.
Additional Quotes
“Devastating. A complete shock, no one tells you that breast cancer ruins your sex life!” – Breast cancer survivor, 61 years
“Totally unexpected. I thought that once all my treatment was over my sex life would return to ‘normal” – Breast cancer survivor, 45 years
Professor Jane Ussher, the lead researcher from the UWS School of Psychology, says the research team was overwhelmed by the depth of feeling expressed by women taking part in the survey. The findings indicate that physical changes, followed by body image and physical attractiveness, are the most important personal issues facing women post-cancer.
“This finding is significant as it goes a long way toward explaining the changes that women also experience within their sexual relationships – which are often described as the longest-lasting and most devastating consequences of breast cancer,” says Professor Ussher
Dr Julie Thompson, BCNA’s Clinical Advisor said, “There is a clear need to address a woman’s sexual wellbeing as part of the clinical treatment of her breast cancer. Some of the issues related to sexual wellbeing reported in the research are experienced by postmenopausal women who have not had breast cancer. For breast cancer survivors these issues need to be discussed in the context of the physical and emotional changes wrought by breast cancer, their ongoing treatment and their individual concerns.”
-ENDS-
For further information please see additional background information below or visit www.bcna.org.au
For media enquiries, to request an interview or obtain a copy of the booklet, please contact:
Julie Reilly
BNCA Media Manager
Tel: (03) 9805 2572
Mobile: 0417 545 986
jreilly@bcna.org.au
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – FAST FACTS
About the Research Findings
A diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can have a significant negative impact on women’s sexual wellbeing. This is an issue that is too often ignored, and many women feel isolated and alone as a result.
BCNA wanted to better understand the extent of the issues experienced by women, and for the health professionals who support them. BCNA commissioned the University of Western Sydney to conduct research with women and health professionals.
The purpose of the research was to understand the issues for women with breast cancer and health professionals, and to identify practical ways to try and improve the situation.
The survey of women (BCNA members) was completed by 2210 breast cancer survivors, and the survey of health professionals was completed by 159 health professionals from the BCNA national network.
The research highlighted the complexity of the physical, emotional and psychological sexual wellbeing issues many women face following a diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
About the results re survey of women
The survey findings highlight the complexity of the issue which impacts a woman’s physical, emotional, sexual and psychological wellbeing, in particular her sense of femininity, as well as her overall sense of self.
The results found that, following breast cancer:
- 88% of women reported changes in sexual wellbeing
- 73% of women reported feeling less desirable following breast cancer
- 60% of women reported decreases in intimacy
- 78% of women reported decreases in the frequency of sex
- 44% of women felt uncomfortable exposing their body following breast cancer
- 74% of women reported decreases in sexual arousal
- 71% of women reported decreased interest in sex - Breast cancer had a major impact on women’s sexual relationships as well, with 50% of women stating that the impact was dramatic or considerable
- Despite this 65% of women had not spoken to anyone about these changes
- 68% of women said that they would like to receive information about breast cancer and sexual wellbeing, with 62% wanting to receive the information in a booklet or leaflet form
- 69% of women said they would like to speak to their partner about changes to their sexual wellbeing and sexual relationship, followed by GPs, Breast Care Nurses and counsellors.
About the results re survey of health professionals
While 89% of health professionals said they considered sexual wellbeing to be a ‘very important’ issue for women, only one third said they ‘always’ address this issue with women.
98.6% of the health professionals surveyed considered ‘body image and physical attractiveness’ to be the most important change to sexual wellbeing after breast cancer
About BCNA’s new booklet – Breast Cancer and Sexual Wellbeing
BCNA’s new Breast Cancer and Sexual Wellbeing booklet aims to help women with breast cancer better navigate this difficult issue. The booklet (designed for both single and partnered women) is a resource to help women identify the issues impacting on them during and after their treatment, and to suggest possible strategies to help manage some of their concerns.
Topics covered in the booklet include:
- The feelings of grief, sadness and loss that could occur as the result of a breast cancer experience
- Low self-esteem or body image
- Building intimacy with your partner – both emotional and physical
- Building a new relationship
- Loss of desire / low libido
- The first sexual encounter after breast cancer
- Loss of sensation
- Physical symptoms of menopause (including treatment induced early menopause)
- Tips for talking to a health professional about sexual wellbeing
Where to find more information
The booklet is available now online at www.bcna.org.au/living-breast-cancer/sexual-wellbeing and a hard copy can be ordered by calling BCNA on freecall 1800 500 258.
About breast cancer in Australia
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Australia, with more than 14,000 new cases expected this year – 106 cases occurring in men
- More than 2,700 women will die from the disease in a single year – making it the second leading cause of cancer-related death in females (after lung cancer)
- One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85
- Getting older is the most common risk factor: about 13% of new cases are among women aged 20–44, 61% in women aged 45–69 and 26% among women over 70.
- Despite the significant loss of life, survival prospects continue to improve. Over 96% of women will survive at least one year after diagnosis, and almost 87% will survive five years or more – a 15% increase since the 1980s
- Survival is improving due to better detection and improved treatments
- Breast cancer survivors can experience a range of difficulties, ranging from physical limitations to psychosocial problems. Survivorship issues are an emerging focus in breast cancer
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & National Breast Cancer Centre 2006. Breast cancer in Australia: an overview, 2006. Cancer series no. 34. cat. no. CAN 29. Canberra: AIHW
About Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA)
- BCNA is the peak national organisation for Australians affected by breast cancer, and consists of a network of more than 60,000 individual members and 305 Member Groups. We are represented by the Pink Lady silhouette, symbolic of our focus on the women diagnosed with breast cancer and all those around her.
- BCNA works to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, receive the very best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live.
- BCNA informs, empowers, represents and links together people affected by breast cancer.
Relationships Australia
BCNA is partnering with Relationships Australia in the distribution of this booklet and they are our main referral organisation for women wishing to work through relevant issues. www.relationships.org.au
Collaboration in breast cancer
BCNA is one of four major breast cancer organisations in Australia.
About Breast Cancer Network Australia
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) works to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, receive the very best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live.
www.bcna.org.au
About National Breast Cancer Foundation
The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) advocates for breast cancer research, and works to provide opportunities for all Australians to participate in research. NBCF is represented by the Pink Ribbon.
www.nbcf.org.au
About Cancer Australia
Formerly National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) and Cancer Australia.
Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of cancer and improve the wellbeing of those diagnosed by ensuring that evidence informs cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.
www.canceraustralia.gov.au
About McGrath Foundation
The McGrath Foundation raises money to place Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia, as well as increasing breast awareness in young Australian women.
www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au
The four organisations work closely with each other through representation on committees, input into strategies and sharing of knowledge, while focusing on their own individual aims.
Downloads
- Media release - Sexual Wellbeing after breast cancer.pdf (PDF, 391.26 KB)
