Muna Al-Khaifi, Lead of Breast Cancer Survivorship Program and GP oncologist, Skin Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The Conversation Continues: Strategies for Integrating Sexual Health Into Adult Cancer Survivorship Care
I’m honored to be the lead author of “The Conversation Continues: Addressing the Persistent Gap in Female Sexual Health for Cancer Survivors”, published in Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).
Our paper intentionally moves the conversation from problem identification to solution-building. After outlining the multilevel barriers that contribute to the neglect of sexual health in survivorship care, this figure presents a practical, implementation-focused framework for integrating sexual health into routine oncology practice.
Key elements highlighted in include:
Education and training
Building sustainable clinician competency through:
- Development of clinical guidelines and best-practice resources
- Online training modules and in-person workshops
- Integration of sexual health into medical and nursing curricula
This addresses long-standing gaps in training and clinician discomfort.
Screening and assessment
Normalizing sexual health as a routine component of survivorship care:
- Use of validated tools (e.g., PROMIS Sexual Function measures, FSFI)
- Proactive, routine discussions rather than symptom-triggered conversations
- Early identification to prevent long-term morbidity
Core message:
Improving sexual health outcomes in cancer survivorship requires more than awareness. It requires intentional system design, standardized processes, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Integrating sexual health into survivorship care is essential to delivering equitable, patient-centered, and high-quality oncology care.
Read the full article.”
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