Patients Treated for Hematologic Malignancies : Affected Sexuality and Health Related Quality of Life

Background: Sexuality in relation to Health- Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is mostly studied with younger patients as participants who have undergone bone marrow transplantation and concerns fertility and/or sexual function. However, patients with hematologic malignancies such as DLBCL, CLL or AML most often are above their fifties and are treated with chemo- or chemoimmunotherapy. Objective: The aim was to examine how sexuality and HRQoL was affected in patients with hematologic malignancies, at baseline compared to one month after chemo- or chemoimmunotherapy. Methods: Data were collected twice with a longitudinal design, using The Sexual Adjustment Questionnaire - S and EORTC QLQ C30. Results: Thirty-two patients responded. The importance of sexuality, sexual desire and sexual ability decreased one month after treatment and distressing symptoms such as feelings of tiredness occurred more frequently, compared to baseline. At the same time improvement in Global health status/QoL as well as affected functions in HRQoL was reported. Conclusion: The findings are of significance for nurses in cancer care as it highlights that sexuality and HRQoL needs to be considered also in older patients with hematologic malignancies when fertility issues are of less importance. Implication for practice: In order to meet these patients’ needs regarding sexuality and HRQoL the care must provide greater consistency and continuity. One way is to organize the care in a patient-centered way where patients continuously meet a nurse guided by the idea of holistic individual nursing care throughout the care trajectory.