Communicating the sexuality needs of female cancer patients

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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ABSTRACT

In this study I try to explore how are nurses communicating the sexuality needs of female cancer patients in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on communicating the sexuality needs of female cancer patients and its relation with nurses. The research also analyzes different aspects of sexuality needs of female cancer patients and tries to gauge the roll of nurses.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Sexuality1

Sexuality and cancer3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Knowledge and attitudes7

Breast cancer9

Emotional impact10

Education14

Age16

Culture16

Limitations17

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY22

Research Design22

Literature Search22

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION24

SEXUALITY AND BREAST CANCER25

Life events and breast cancer26

Determinants of psychological well-being27

Stress and breast cancer30

Personality and Cancer31

Providing quality life to breast cancer patients34

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION36

APPENDIX47

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The topic of this dissertation has developed through my personal experience and observations working in oncology. Cancer and its treatments are associated with biomedical and psychosocial changes which frequently effect quality of life issues like sexuality. Sexuality has long been seen as an essential component in providing holistic nursing care (Roper, Logan and Tierney, 1996). However research suggests that nurses have consistently avoided conversations in this area (Lewis and Bor, 1994). Cancer doesn't need to affect the sexual organs to directly impact on sexuality, however the intimate relationship between them would indicate conversations on sexuality would be far more prominent. The object of this dissertation is to explore how nurses communicate with female patients with cancer affecting the sexual organs.

Sexuality

The word 'Sexuality' is a term that is difficult to conceptualise (Lavin & Hyde, 2006). Hill (2008, p4) states this may be attributed to the fact that it has been shielded by allegory and disguised by euphemisms. Wilmoth (2006) states sexuality is similar to pain: It is what an individual identifies it to be. Suggesting it is a uniquely individual experience. Dunleavely (2009) states the term sexuality should not be confused with sexual function. Sexual function relates to the anatomical and physiological ability to engage in the act of sex and any other physical activities directly associated. These may include masturbation, oral sex, kissing, touching and caressing. (Wilmoth & Spinelli, 2000)

Dunleavey (2009) suggests that sexuality is a broader term that incorporates a greater sphere of concepts; however diversity in culture, politics and religion has produced a multitude of definitions adding to the ambiguity. The world health organisation defines sexuality as: 'A central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, ...