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Sexuality in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

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Abstract

McKee and Schover have suggested that sexuality is an aspect of intimacy that is frequently compromised by cancer and its treatments. Cancer, both in terms of diagnosis and treatments, may have a dramatic impact on both intimacy and sexuality. There is a body of published research addressing sexual concerns among patients with prostatic, testicular, breast, and rectal cancers. This issue seems to be less well documented in patients who have undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this review, we seek to elaborate different points regarding sexuality and how it is affected in patients undergoing HSCT, with the aim of identifying optimum solutions for such patients in confronting such problems in the course of cancer treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hemato-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Sarah Jayne Liptrott & Giovanni Martinelli

  2. Medical Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Fom El Khalig Sq., Kasr Al-Aini St., Cairo, 11796, Egypt

    Emad Shash

Authors
  1. Sarah Jayne Liptrott
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  2. Emad Shash
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  3. Giovanni Martinelli
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Correspondence to Emad Shash.

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Liptrott, S.J., Shash, E. & Martinelli, G. Sexuality in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Int J Hematol 94, 519–524 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0960-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0960-2

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