Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on the Quality of Sexual Life of Women with Breast Cancer

Objective: To evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the sexual quality of life of women with breast cancer. Method: Prospective cohort study, carried out between July 2022 and July 2023, with 149 women with non-metastatic breast cancer, candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment at the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center. Data collection was performed at three moments: at the beginning of treatment (PM), during the change in therapeutic protocol (SM) and at the end of treatment, with the application of the BREAST-Q and EORTC-QLQ-BR23 instruments. Result: The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be observed, with a reduction in self-perception of sexual attractiveness without clothes (which decreased from 41.4% in PM, to 25.7% in SM and 23.2% in TM), in the feeling of femininity when dressed (72.5% in PM, 47.7% in SM and 43.4% in TM), and in satisfaction with sexual life (PM 38.5%, SM 20.2%, TM 18.0%). Such factors are implicated in the deterioration of sexual quality of life throughout neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.000). Conclusion: A reduction in QOL was observed throughout treatment, with greater relevance between the beginning and half of treatment, as well as between the beginning and end of treatment.