Grant: Catalyst Grant: Biomedical & Clinical Approaches to Improving Quality of Life

Sexual health is a crucial component of quality of life for cancer survivors, however, evidence-based treatments are limited. Moreover, there exists a cultural taboo around discussing sexuality--particuarly in cancer survivors--that results in many individuals suffering from untreated sexual complaints for many years. It is well known that surgical treatment for gynecologic and colorectal cancer negatively impacts upon sexual function in men and women. In addition to damage that interferes with genital blood flow, cancer treatment can negatively impact more psychosocial aspects of well-being such as mood, relationship function, body image, and psychological symptoms. The goal of this study is to tailor our existing psychoeducational treatment (originally developed for women with gynaecologic cancer and administered in person) for women and men. We will then create a password-protected website where participants in the study can access the material online. It will consist of 12 online topics and associated homework exercises to be administered over the course of 3 months. On the basis of feasibility information and effect sizes, we'll then use the findings to apply for a more substantial CIHR grant in the future. Because sexual health is such an integral component of quality of life in cancer survivors, the availability of effective treatments that can be accessed online, thus ensuring privacy and accessibility for those in more rural locations, is seen as contributing to the health and well-being of cancer survivors.