Disrupted biographies and gendered identities: A qualitative study exploring sexuality and blood cancer

Purpose This study examines how blood cancer impacts patients’ sexuality and sense of gendered identity. Methods An interpretive epistemological framework necessitated a qualitative study design. Participants (6 male and 6 female), recruited from a hospital Haematology department in a large Northern English City, took part in semi-structured in-depth interviews to gather rich data about their subjective experiences. Results A key theme from the qualitative data was a sense of disruption in relation to several aspects of their gendered identities and sexual life. Participants explained disruption to their sexual function and sexual sense of self. They narrated concerns about future imagined relationships. The emotional burden of sexuality related concerns was strongly articulated. A gendered perspective enabled the similarities and differences between men and women to be explored. Conclusion This study, drawing on rich qualitative data, documents the sexuality concerns of blood cancer patients; for some such concerns arise many years post treatment. The findings highlight the need for gender appropriate care around sexuality which should continue to be accessible well after diagnosis and treatment phases have ceased.