Quality of Life for Couples Coping with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Researcher

Dr. Jennifer Reese, Clinical Psychologist. Fox Chase Cancer Center

Summary

The survival rate after a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is steadily increasing such that one-third of women currently living with this diagnosis have lived for five years or more. Up to 77% of women with MBC report reduced sexual quality of life (QOL), defined as sexual adjustment across physical, emotional/motivational, and interpersonal domains. Sexual concerns such as vaginal dryness, reduced sexual interest, and loss of sexual activities can impede a woman’s ability to experience intimacy with her partner at a time when such support may be most needed. By contrast, addressing women’s sexual concerns might have benefits not only for women’s own QOL but also for their intimate relationships in the context of a life-limiting illness. Sexual concerns do not tend to abate on their own over time, indicating that interventions are needed. Indeed, although women with MBC report wanting to maintain physical intimacy in their relationships, and would like support in coping with sexual concerns, they have been excluded from trials of sexual QOL interventions.

What does participation involve?

All participants will be asked to complete a consent form and 3 study surveys over the course of 6 months
Patient is female
Patient age > 18 years
Patient has a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (Stage IV)
The patient has a partner or spouse who is > 18
The patient lives with a romantic partner (same or opposite sex) > 6 months*
A score of at least 3 out of 10 on the Patient Care Monitor Sexual Concerns screening item, indicating that the patient has at least some degree of sexual concerns

Exclusion Criteria

The patient or partner is not able to speak and read English
Patient or partner ECOG Performance score > 2 OR medically unable to participate as judged by physician/in medical record or by self-report
Patient or partner has a hearing impairment
Patient and partner do not have reliable telephone access
Patient has overt cognitive dysfunction or psychiatric disturbance such as suicidal ideation or severe mental illness, as observed or judged by the researcher, physician or referring source, or self-report
Patient past or current history of any cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer or breast cancer
Patient is currently participating in couple/marital therapy
Patient is currently pregnant

Where?

U.S. only in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.