Efficacy of a multimedia intervention in facilitating breast cancer patients' clinical communication about sexual health: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Many women with breast cancer (BC) hesitate to raise sexual concerns clinically. We evaluated a multimedia intervention to facilitate BC patients' communication about sexual/menopausal health, called Starting the Conversation (STC). METHODS: Female BC patients (N = 144) were randomly assigned to either STC (20-min video, workbook, and resource guide) or control (resource guide only). Audio-recorded dialogue from patients' next oncology clinic encounter was coded for patients' sexual health communication. Self-report surveys assessed patients' beliefs about sexual health communication, self-efficacy for clinical interactions, sexual function/activity, anxiety/depression symptoms, and quality of life at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up. T-tests or mixed-effects logistic regression compared study arms. RESULTS: Women in the STC arm were more likely to raise the topic of sexual health (51%; OR = 2.62 [1.02, 6.69], p = 0.04) and ask a sexual health question (40%; OR = 2.85 [1.27, 6.38], p = 0.01) during their clinic encounter than those in the control arm (30% and 19% for raise and ask, respectively). At follow-up, women in the STC arm showed greater improvements in sexual health communication self-efficacy (p = 0.009) and in anxiety symptoms (p = 0.03), and more women were sexually active at follow-up, compared to the control arm (OR = 1.5, 70% vs. 46%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The STC intervention facilitated women's clinical communication about sexual health and reduced women's anxiety, possibly due to increased confidence in expressing their medical needs. Helpful information gained from clinical discussions could have improved women's willingness or ability to engage in sexual activity. Future studies should identify aspects of the clinical encounter most critical to improving women's sexual outcomes.

Understanding Sexual Help-Seeking for Women With Breast Cancer: What Distinguishes Women Who Seek Help From Those Who Do Not?

BACKGROUND: Sexual problems are extremely common for women after breast cancer (BC). AIM: To determine, in a sample of BC outpatients, how commonly women sought help for sexual concerns, from a health care provider (HCP), from other individuals, or from alternate sources; and to examine whether help-seeking was associated with women's sexual function/activity, self-efficacy for clinical communication about sexual health, or sociodemographic/medical characteristics. METHODS: BC patients participating in a sexual/menopausal health communication intervention trial completed web-based baseline self-report surveys. One-way analysis of variances compared effects of the level of sexual help-seeking (none; 1 outlet; 2-3 outlets) on sexual function domains. Chi-square or t-tests compared women seeking help with those not seeking help on other study variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-reported outcome instruments assessed sexual help-seeking (past month), sexual function and activity (PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Brief Profile Version 2.0), and self-efficacy (confidence) for communicating with their BC clinician about sexual health. RESULTS: 144 women (mean age = 56.0 years; 62% partnered; 67% white; 27% black/African American; 4% Hispanic/Latina; 15% stage IV) participated in this study. 49% of women sought help for sexual concerns, most often from intimate partners, family and/or friends (42%), followed by HCPs (24%), or online/print materials (19%); very few women (n = 4; 3%) sought help only from a HCP. Women seeking help were younger and more likely to be partnered and sexually active than those not seeking help. Sexual function was impaired for all domains but was most impaired for sexual interest. Among sexually active women, those seeking help from 2 to 3 sources reported worse sexual function in certain domains (sexual interest, lubrication, vaginal discomfort, vulvar discomfort-labial, satisfaction). Women seeking help from outlets other than HCPs had significantly lower self-efficacy than those who did not. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: BC patients with access to a partner and who are sexually active but find sex unsatisfying, uncomfortable, or lack interest may be in particular need of sexual help. Further, women may turn to outlets other than HCPs for sexual help partly because they lack the confidence to do so with a HCP. Sexual health information should be made available to women's partners, family, and friends, so they may effectively discuss such issues if needed. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Strengths of the study included examination of a range of sexual function domains and a theoretical construct in relation to BC patients' sexual help-seeking and a medically diverse sample. Limitations include a cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: Women treated for BC should receive accurate and timely sexual health information. Reese JB, Sorice KA, Pollard W, et al. Understanding Sexual Help-Seeking for Women With Breast Cancer: What Distinguishes Women Who Seek Help From Those Who Do Not? J Sex Med 2020;17:1729-1739.

Novel Presentation of Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus on the Ear of a Patient Treated on a Panamanian Humanitarian Mission.

Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FEP) is traditionally classified as an unusual variant of basal cell carcinoma. It has non-specific clinical findings yet distinct histologic features. The diagnosis can be challenging for clinicians because it often mimics benign entities such as intradermal nevi. FEP typically occurs on the trunk, but many body sites can be involved including the head, neck, and genitalia. According to a PubMed search of articles indexed in MEDLINE using "Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus" and "ear" or "auricle," there are no reports of FEP specifically occurring on the ear. We describe the first case of FEP on the ear of a heavily sun-damaged male treated while on a military humanitarian mission to Panama. This case helps support the classification of FEP as a basal cell carcinoma variant and raises awareness for this entity as it may be encountered both on military humanitarian missions and in military clinics.

Ecthyma gangrenosum caused by Citrobacter freundii.

A 55-year-old man undergoing chemotherapy for recurrent multiple myeloma presented with a 2-day history of bilateral lower leg rash with pain and oedema. On examination, there were numerous non-palpable retiform pruritic patches over both lower legs. Skin pnch biopsy demonstrated a diffuse interstitial neutrophilic infiltrate with necrosis. Peripheral blood and skin tissue cultures both isolated Citrobacterfreundii, consistent with a rare form of ecthyma gangrenosum. The patient responded with appropriate antibiotic therapy and removal of medical port. He made a full recovery from this infectious complication of his underlying immunosuppression.

Novel R634W c-kit mutation identified in familial mastocytosis.

Familial mastocytosis is a well-documented but rare entity, with fewer than 100 cases reported in the literature. The etiology has most commonly been linked to activating c-kit mutations, with several mutations reported to date. We present a novel familial mastocytosis-associated c-kit mutation (R634W) in three siblings with urticaria pigmentosa. This mutation has been previously described in mucosal melanoma, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia. Because this is a rare mutation, it is unclear whether screening for other disease states associated with the mutation would be of benefit.