An Intimacy Intervention for Couples Completing Breast or Prostate Cancer

This project seeks to help patients address and improve intimacy at the end of treatment for breast or prostate cancer. It is intended to address the needs of cancer survivors, broadly defined as paftients and their loved ones or caregivers facing a cancer diagnosis. While we know sexual health is impacted by the diagnosis and treatments for cancer, we also are increasingly aware that partners and spouses are also impacted by the experience. Yet, there are no evidence based interventions that focus on the couple's recovery after the initial cancer experience. The objective of this study is to look at the impact of an intimacy intervention at the completion of cancer treatment for couples facing breast or prostate cancer. We will enroll patients and their intimate partners in this study in two phases. In the first phase, couples will receive sensate focus homework, explained to them at a standard survivorship care visit (SCV) by a study nurse practitioner (NP). The objective in the first phase is to see if this is something feasible by looking at how many use sensate focus homework in 6 weeks. If it is not feasible, we will rework the study based on what we learned. However, if it is feasible, we will reopen the study to a larger group and employ a random assignment to an SCV with or without sensate focus homework. This phase will give us evidence of efficacy that we will use to propose a larger randomized trial, potentially in the National Cancer Institute system. Participants will be asked to answer questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, and then at 12 weeks during phase 2. Those who complete treatment at 12 weeks will be re-contacted 6 months after protocol enrollment for an optional end of treatment interview to assess what they thought of the intervention, including sensate focus homework itself and the timing.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients (≥18 years) with histologically proven breast or prostate cancer
* Ability to speak English or able to complete questionnaires with assistance required from an interpreter or family member.
* Completed curative intent treatment for cancer no more than 6 months prior to study enrollment. Treatment may have consisted of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Patients on extended adjuvant (maintenance) treatment will be allowed to enroll.
* In a stable non-married relationship or otherwise partnered or married.
* Partner willing to participate in study

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of significant psychiatric or other co-morbid disease, which the treating clinician believes prohibits the patient's ability to participate in the informed consent procedures