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Volume 19, Issue 1 (Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases 2027)
ijbd 2027, 19(1): 107-125 |
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Sajadian A, ghamarzad shishavan N, Raji Lahiji M, Heydari L, Anbiaee R, Omranipour R, et al . Sexual health and body image in breast cancer survivors: a prospective, multicenter, 5-year longitudinal study. ijbd 2027; 19 (1) :107-125
URL: http://ijbd.ir/article-1-1241-en.html
URL: http://ijbd.ir/article-1-1241-en.html
Akram Sajadian *1 
, Neda Ghamarzad shishavan2 , Mahsa Raji Lahiji2 , Leila Heydari2 , Robab Anbiaee3 , Ramesh Omranipour4 , Nahid Nafissi5 , Farshid Alaeddini6
, Neda Ghamarzad shishavan2 , Mahsa Raji Lahiji2 , Leila Heydari2 , Robab Anbiaee3 , Ramesh Omranipour4 , Nahid Nafissi5 , Farshid Alaeddini6
1- Quality of Life Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran , assajadi@yahoo.com
2- Quality of Life Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Ira
5- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6- Research Center for Health Management in Mass Gathering, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
2- Quality of Life Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Ira
5- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6- Research Center for Health Management in Mass Gathering, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (79 Views)
Introduction: Breast cancer survivors face lots of difficulties, such as psychological and sexual problems, even years after treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate sexual health and body image in breast cancer survivors (BCS) during a 5-year follow-up study.
Methods: This prospective longitudinal study recruited 1250 female patients with breast cancer from five referral medical centers located in Tehran, Iran. All participants had completed the standard treatments within one month. The demographic and clinical information were obtained immediately after treatment completion. Data on body image and sexual function were collected using the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively, at three time points: baseline (immediately), 1 year, and 5 years after treatment completion. The relationship between women's sexual function scores and body image dissatisfaction with various demographic factors was examined using linear regression.
Results: Of 1,115 breast cancer survivors who participated in the study, 856 women (76.7%) completed the study by five years of follow-up. Body image distress score were reported 32.98±11.95 at immediately, 28.79±11.19 at 1 year, and 22.73±7.95 at 5 years after treatment completion and trend of total sexual function index changes during 5-year follow up (9.71±7.88, 11.67±8.14 and 10.14±7.76 at immediately, 1 year and 5 years after treatment completion, respectively), showed a significant improvement in body image distress and total sexual function during follow up period (p<0.001). A significant decline in desire was observed over 5 years (p<0.001). In addition, older age at diagnosis, higher baseline depression, and higher stage of disease were associated with more severe sexual dysfunction, while being married was associated with better sexual function. Body image dissatisfaction decreased with time since treatment and older age at diagnosis, while baseline depression was associated with increased long-term body image concerns.
Conclusion: Given the decline in the desire subscale of FSFI, despite body image and sexual function improvement following years after treatment in BCS, and the role of depression immediately after treatment completion in body image concern and sexual dysfunction, the need for psychological counseling to reduce depression, as well as ongoing sexual counseling in short and long-term follow-up periods after breast cancer treatment, is evident.
Methods: This prospective longitudinal study recruited 1250 female patients with breast cancer from five referral medical centers located in Tehran, Iran. All participants had completed the standard treatments within one month. The demographic and clinical information were obtained immediately after treatment completion. Data on body image and sexual function were collected using the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively, at three time points: baseline (immediately), 1 year, and 5 years after treatment completion. The relationship between women's sexual function scores and body image dissatisfaction with various demographic factors was examined using linear regression.
Results: Of 1,115 breast cancer survivors who participated in the study, 856 women (76.7%) completed the study by five years of follow-up. Body image distress score were reported 32.98±11.95 at immediately, 28.79±11.19 at 1 year, and 22.73±7.95 at 5 years after treatment completion and trend of total sexual function index changes during 5-year follow up (9.71±7.88, 11.67±8.14 and 10.14±7.76 at immediately, 1 year and 5 years after treatment completion, respectively), showed a significant improvement in body image distress and total sexual function during follow up period (p<0.001). A significant decline in desire was observed over 5 years (p<0.001). In addition, older age at diagnosis, higher baseline depression, and higher stage of disease were associated with more severe sexual dysfunction, while being married was associated with better sexual function. Body image dissatisfaction decreased with time since treatment and older age at diagnosis, while baseline depression was associated with increased long-term body image concerns.
Conclusion: Given the decline in the desire subscale of FSFI, despite body image and sexual function improvement following years after treatment in BCS, and the role of depression immediately after treatment completion in body image concern and sexual dysfunction, the need for psychological counseling to reduce depression, as well as ongoing sexual counseling in short and long-term follow-up periods after breast cancer treatment, is evident.
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation
Received: 2025/12/22 | Accepted: 2026/03/16 | Published: 2026/03/25
Received: 2025/12/22 | Accepted: 2026/03/16 | Published: 2026/03/25
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