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Abstract
Although a number of articles about the sexual functioning of cancer patients have been published, relatively few have described empirical investigations or integrated approaches to the subject. This article reviews recent studies of patients who have breast or prostate cancer within the context of three phases of sexual response. It also discusses variables that may play a role in sexual disfunction and offers recommendations for studying these variables in cancer patients. Potentially important variables include premorbid sexual functioning, definition of sexual satisfaction, body image, functional status, marital status, treatment modality, and stage of disease. Suggestions for future research are also offered.