(274) Long-Term Effects of Type of Breast Surgery on Sexual Health Among Women with Early Breast Cancer - An Analysis of the BRandO-BiO-Cohort

Introduction Women undergoing surgery for breast cancer have a higher risk of sexual dysfunction and report lower satisfaction with their sexual life compared with the general population. This is particularly pronounced in women who underwent mastectomy compared with those who received breast-conserving surgery. Different types of breast surgery, such as mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery, may have distinct long-term effects on sexual function, which can impact patients' self-esteem and overall quality of life. Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing survivorship care. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term impact of different types of breast surgery on sexual health in women with primary breast cancer. Methods The data were collected as part of the prospective, multicenter BRandO-BiO (BReast and Ovarian Cancer) registry study at a tertiary university hospital in Germany. Included in the analysis were patients with primary breast cancer. Analyses were conducted using data from the cancer registry and questionnaire databases. Standardized questionnaires were used to evaluate partnership and sexual life at initial diagnosis and longitudinally at 1, 3 and 5 years of follow-up. Measurements included changes in sexuality and partnership as well as interest, activity and joy of sex. In addition, the impact of type of breast surgery on changes in sexual life was analyzed. Results Between 2016 and 2023, a total of 921 patients with breast cancer were included in the BRandO-BiO study. The median age was 59 years. The mean BMI at diagnosis in our patient cohort was 26.2 kg/m2, above the normal range and classified as pre-obese. 83.1% of women were diagnosed with NST (no special type) carcinomas, 12.6% with invasive lobular breast cancer, and the remaining 4.3% comprised other carcinoma subtypes. In our patient cohort, 75% of women underwent breast-conserving surgery, while 24.5% of all operated women underwent mastectomy. Type of breast surgery had no negative impact on sexual health at 3 and 5 years postoperatively. Significant differences were observed only in the short term after surgery (p = 0.004). The initially reduced interest in sexual activity following diagnosis persisted for up to one year in women who underwent mastectomy compared with those who received breast-conserving surgery but equalized at 3 and 5 years. In our cohort, women who underwent breast-conserving surgery reported a stable partnership significantly more often one year after diagnosis compared with women who underwent mastectomy. However, partnership status changed similarly in both groups, regardless of the type of surgery. Conclusions Our study indicates that, although sexual function is reduced in women who undergo mastectomy in the short term (1 year) after diagnosis, these differences largely disappear after 3 and 5 years, highlighting the long-term recovery of sexual health. These findings emphasize the importance of providing targeted counseling and support to breast cancer survivors, particularly in the first year post-surgery, to address sexual health concerns and improve overall quality of life. Disclosure No