ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2019
Perpetuating the cycle of silence: the intersection of uncertainty and sexual health communication among couples after breast cancer treatment.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Psychosocial experiences of breast cancer survivors: a meta-review.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2024Pooled it
- Relationship Dynamics among Couples Dealing with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- The effects of staged sexual health education on sexual and mental health in breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- A nurse-led theory-based psycho-educational intervention programme for women with gynaecological cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- Perceived communication barriers with spouses among young adult patients with cancer and their association with psychological distress.Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing · 2026Article
- Sexual Silence in Breast Cancer Survivorship: A Secondary Qualitative Study of Healthcare Practices and Sexual Concerns.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Appraisal of sexual functioning before and after cancer: insights from adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and matched healthy controls.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- Impact of breast cancer on sexuality and psycho-physical wellbeing: Survey analysis.Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) · 2026Article
- Sexual health among patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy: an integrative review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Review
- Beyond breast cancer: mapping unmet needs and advancing an evidence-based framework of survivorship care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Review
- Sexual health of female breast cancer survivors and their partners.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2026Article
- Navigating sexual challenges in couples post breast cancer treatment: a qualitative study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Associations Between Sexual Script Flexibility and Sexual Outcomes: An Investigation Among Breast Cancer Survivor Couples.Psycho-oncology · 2025Article
- Cologne questionnaire on speechlessness: Development and validation.Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) · 2022Article
- Sexual Health after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Addressing a Forgotten Aspect of Survivorship.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
- Profiles of women's adjustment after cancer based on sexual and psychosocial wellbeing: results of a cluster analysis.BMC cancer · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe aims of this study are (1) to identify sources of uncertainty breast cancer survivors and partners of breast cancer survivors (BCS) report as a result of sexual health changes after primary treatment and (2) to investigate the challenges they experience when attempting to communicate about sexual health-related uncertainty.
methodsForty BCS and 13 partners completed written reflections and participated in semi-structured interviews.
resultsAnalyses revealed five predominant sources of uncertainty for BCS and partners: perceptions of post-treatment body, worry about effects on relational partners, ethical concerns about dissatisfaction with sexual relationship (partners only), fears about future of the relationship, and apprehension about SH treatment futility. These concerns are linked to communication challenges for couples: supporting survivors' body esteem, navigating potentially hurtful disclosures, responding to partners' "obstructive behavior," and believing communication is futile.
conclusionsFindings suggest women and partners find themselves caught in a destructive cycle that reinforces uncertainty and inadvertently perpetuates silence and relational distress. To disrupt the cycle of silence, BCS and partners need to know that their interpretation of the other person's behaviors/needs is not always accurate. Strategies are required to help women and their partners express uncomfortable thoughts and feelings in safe and supportive environments. Practitioners should be conscious of potential SH issues, be familiar with existing support resources for survivors, and be prepared to disseminate information that will empower women and their partners.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.