‘Better sex life for breast conservative surgery survivors’

Lucknow: Cancer patients who have undergone breast conservative surgery (BCS) have better sexual life in comparison to mastectomy (complete removal of breast) patients, said a study conducted at endocrine surgery department of King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
The report of the study conducted between January and December 2020 was presented by head of endocrine surgery department KGMU prof Anand Mishra on Saturday on the concluding day of Breast Cancer Update 2022 conference.
Citing the findings, Mishra said 150 women diagnosed with breast cancer were enrolled in the study. As many as 104 underwent mastectomy while BCS was performed on 46 patients. They were assessed by Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) that consists of questions related to desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain before starting therapy immediately (4 weeks) after completion of the procedure and at 3 months follow-up.
“As per the index, patients below the average of 28 are considered having sexual dysfunction. There was no sexual dysfunction reported in 14% patients with over 28 score while remaining had average score of 26. The average of mastectomy was 22 while BCS was 21,” he said.
Prof Anand said there was no major difference between scores of mastectomy and BCS but arousal, lubrication, orgasm were lesser in those who underwent mastectomy as compared to BCS. However, both showed equal reduction in desire and satisfaction.
“The psychological trauma, stress and anxiety could be the probable reasons why sexual life of mastectomy patients get affected more adversely than BCS survivors. Feeling loss of an organ is also a reason. However, further studies need to be done to know reasons behind it,” said Mishra.
Dr Diptendra Sarkar, prof Sanjeev Mishra, prof Arun Chaturvedi, Dr Vaishali Jamare were also present on the occasion. Earlier, vice-chancellor Lt Gen (retd) prof Bipin Puri expressed his happiness over the functioning of the department.