Sexual scripts in the context of breast cancer

Introduction. - The breast cancer can bring repercussions to the sexuality experience of women due to body modifications resulting from treatments. Objective. - To understand how breast cancer and its treatments affect the sexuality of women by its interaction with the psychosocial aspects and cultural aspects that permeate sexual life after treatment. Method. - This qualitative study was based on the theory of sexual scripts to interpret the material obtained by individual interviews with semi-structured guide, focus groups and thematic group activities. Thirty-six women who were enrolled in a supportive care center for breast cancer participated in this study. Results. - Were identified three categories: 1. Script of sexuality based on traditional gender roles. The discourses expressed a sexuality restricted to sexual intercourse and based by feminine and masculine social roles strictly defined. In this script, the breast cancer brought the fear of abandon by the partner. 2. Script of sexuality related to elderly. There were reports of the perception of the aging process that caused changes in the experience of sexuality, not breast cancer. 3. Script of sexuality based on wellbeing. There were reports about the desire for a sexual life with sexual pleasure to women. To part of participants the consequences of treatments caused the worsening of sexual life. For other women sexual life remained good due to the awareness of the partner support. Some women argued improvement of sexual life justified by the strengthening of the relationship. Conclusion. - The knowledge about the psychosocial and cultural aspects that affect the sexuality of women after breast cancer can contribute to improvement of health care. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.