Practice Matters

Advanced Practice Providers’ Role in Intimacy in Advanced Cancer Patients

Anna Poullard, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC, and Sheena Charles, MS, FNP-BC

From The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Authors’ disclosures of conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

Correspondence to: Sheena Charles, MS, FNP-BC, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston TX 77030 E-mail: scharles@mdanderson.org

ABSTRACT

The primary objectives of early phase clinical trials are to determine the safety, tolerability, and recommended doses of an investigational agent for patients with advanced cancer. Although these advances in cancer treatment have resulted in patients living longer, patients often experience psychological side effects that may affect sexual health and intimacy. It is estimated that cancer and its subsequent treatments affect the sexual health and intimacy of 40% to 100% of this patient population. Patients with advanced cancer who have undergone numerous treatments may be impacted negatively, not only physically (such as being disfigured by surgical resection) but also emotionally in relationship aspects with their intimate partners. Health-care providers who treat patients with advanced cancer enrolled in early phase clinical trials tend to focus primarily on treatment, physical side effects, and symptom management. Advanced practice providers (APPs) are accustomed to performing comprehensive physical examinations on patients; however, research indicates that intimacy and sexuality are most often excluded in discussions with patients with advanced cancer. The purpose of the article is to increase awareness of the need to address intimacy and sexuality in this patient population and to encourage APPs to make this a part of their everyday practice.

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