Men’s Experience with Sexual Dysfunction Post-rectal Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Study

In an effort to address reports from men that their sex life is worse after treatment for rectal cancer, this qualitative study was designed to better understand their experience with sexual dysfunction following rectal cancer treatment, thus providing information on the adaptation of a psycho-educational sexual health intervention for male rectal cancer survivors and simultaneously investigating barriers and promoters that would influence their participation in a psycho-educational sexual health intervention. Thirteen male rectal cancer survivors who were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for rectal cancer participated (median time post-treatment was 6.4 years). Six survivors participated in individual semi-structured phone interviews, and seven others took part in focus groups. We performed standard procedures of qualitative thematic text analysis, which involved independent review of interview and focus group transcripts by several analysts followed by consensus meetings to identify key themes. Participants reported bowel dysfunction (N = 13, or 100 %) and erectile dysfunction (N = 12, or 92 %) as chief complaints. The participants thought a psychoeducational sexual health intervention post-surgery would be helpful because it would provide educational information regarding the etiology of their problems and treatments to improve their sexual health (N = 8, or 62 %). Most participants' primary concern immediately after treatment was surviving their disease; improving sexual functioning seemed to become more important over time. Barriers to potentially participating in a psycho-educational sexual health intervention included geographical distance from MSKCC (N = 3, or 3/13) and the risk of embarrassment when discussing sexual issues (N = 5, or 5/13). Men reported that a psycho-educational sexual health intervention would be helpful to improve their sexual functioning post-treatment. Discussion of bowel issues and logistical concerns gave information on the psycho-educational sexual health intervention.