{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T16:41:38Z","timestamp":1791996098147,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]],"date-time":"2025-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744934400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]],"date-time":"2025-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744934400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"funder":[{"name":"Think Pink VZW"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Womens Health (Lond Engl)"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Breast cancer survivorship is often associated with a negative impact on sexual function and sexual well-being. Given that sexual well-being contributes to quality of life\u2014including for breast cancer survivors\u2014it is important to address survivors\u2019 sexual worries during the treatment process.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study explored factors that contribute to changes in sexual functioning and sexual well-being after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in otherwise healthy patients.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Narrative qualitative study using thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Method:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      We included 25 breast cancer survivors without severe comorbidities for individual interviews (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200916) and 2 focus group discussions (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20094 and\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">N<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20096). One participant attended both an individual interview and a focus group discussion.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>After the diagnosis of breast cancer, a sudden shift emerged in relation to life before and after breast cancer. A thematic analysis resulted in the identification of one high-level theme: asymmetry. This asymmetry was experienced in the following domains: (1) physical asymmetry in the chest region after surgery and radiotherapy, (2) sexual asymmetry; differences in how the body and mind react to sexual stimuli due to residual physical side effects and the effects of ongoing treatment: a lack of sexual desire, severe vaginal dryness and\/or dyspareunia, and lack of vaginal arousal response during sexual activity, (3) life asymmetry in time- and self-management, which deprives patients from experiences that make someone feel good about oneself, (4) asymmetry in the experience in invulnerability: the reality of the sexual side effects of treatment and expectations of these side effects after being informed by a healthcare professional, and (5) relational asymmetry: asymmetry between the partners in their relationship due to role confusion and role changes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have a distinct impact on sexual function and sexual well-being. Changes in social relationships due to the diagnosis and the physical side effects of treatment are associated with a decline in sexual well-being, which should receive more attention in research and clinical care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/17455057241310271","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,19]],"date-time":"2025-04-19T07:14:35Z","timestamp":1745046875000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Sexuality after breast cancer treatment: An experience of asymmetry"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0950-0867","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nynke","family":"Willers","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"},{"name":"AZ Sint Blasius, Dendermonde, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6641-5159","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paul","family":"Enzlin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patrick","family":"Neven","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"},{"name":"Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Multidisciplinary Breast Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sileny N","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"},{"name":"Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Multidisciplinary Breast Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_2_2","unstructured":"Belgian Cancer Registry (BCR). 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