1371PCONCERNS ABOUT SEXUALITY OF YOUNG WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER AND THEIR PARTNERS

ABSTRACT Aim: A qualitative study of 69 couples showed that concerns about sexuality was mentioned by 41% of the participants, more often at the beginning of the treatment and during chemotherapy (CT) (58%) and trastuzumab (T) (45%) than during hormone therapy (HT) (33%) and follow up (21%) (p Methods: 431 couples, in which the patient was suffering from non-metastatic BC, completed a self-administered questionnaire with 8 dimensions assessing their subjective experience at different stages of treatment (27.4% under CT, 10.2% under T, 35% under HT, 27.4% under follow up). For each item on sexuality : (a) I have sexual difficulties because of the disease; (b) I feel less sexual desire; (c) I have trouble accepting that my partner physically touch me / I dare not physically touch my partner; (d) I feel like abandoning my partner / I do not recognize my partner physically). The participants had to indicate the degree in which the assertion corresponded to their actual state, using a scale from 1 (« strongly disagree ») to 5 (« strongly agree »). Results: 1) Regardless of the stage of treatment, patients reported more difficulties than partners. We also note that for the item (a) the patients under T and their partners tended to report more difficulties than the patients under HT and their partners. 2) 38% of couples disagreed about their sexual difficulties, 30% moderately agreed and 32% agreed. The “profiles” of the couples proved not to be statistically different depending on the period; the greater degree of disagreement seemed to be during the HT (67/151 couples, with patients reporting more difficulties than partners). Conclusions: The sexual difficulties of couples appear to be present all along the treatment program and even during the follow-up period, for patients as well as for their partners. The perception of each member of the dyad should thus be taken into account in the course of care to better understand the problem of couples related to this specific problem. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.