Letters | Hong Kong needs to open up on how cancer affects sexual health: let nurses show the way

Sexuality has always been a sensitive topic in predominantly Chinese societies such as Hong Kong. Consequently, although many people have sexual problems at some point in their lives, most suffer in silence and avoid seeking help.

Cancer patients, in particular, suffer from more severe and long-lasting sexual problems due to the disease itself and also as a result of invasive treatments. Research indicates that sexual problems in patients treated for cancer are linked to poorer marital relationships, emotional health and quality of life, and that these ill effects can persist for many years after cancer treatment has concluded.

Advances in the detection and treatment of cancer have improved life expectancy for an increasing number of patients. Therefore, it is important to determine which people treated for cancer need health care support and how this can be provided, given that health care resources are limited.

Our recent research reveals that women treated for gynaecological cancers require psychosexual support and practical advice from health care professionals, especially nurses, on coping with treatment-related sexual problems.

Likewise, health care professionals acknowledge the importance of sexual health assessment and care as part of holistic patient care. However, many professionals rarely or never discuss sexual issues with their patients, and attribute this to a lack of sexual health training and specialist referral options.

Studies have shown that sexual health training programmes significantly improve health care professionals’ knowledge, communication skills and practice in this field. However, very few high-quality programmes are available in Hong Kong. Many developed countries including the United States, Australia and Britain have developed comprehensive training programmes, and this has improved the accessibility of sexual health services for the public.