Priorities in Fertility Decisions for Reproductive-Aged Cancer Patients: Fertility Attitudes and Cancer Treatment Study

Overview

Journal J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2017 Feb 22

PMID 28221816

Citations 8

Authors

Dina M Flink

Laxmi A Kondapalli

Yvonne Kellar-Guenther

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The Fertility Attitudes and Cancer Treatment Study (FACTS) aims at better understanding the reasons and priorities of young adult cancer patients making decisions for fertility preservation (FP). Identifying the factors that center around a patient's fertility decisions will support the development of educational tools for providers and improve clinical care to meet patients' reproductive needs.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted of 27 newly diagnosed male and female cancer patients who had presented for an oncofertility consultation. Interviews lasted ∼30 minutes and were transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore the factors driving decisions for future fertility. Themes were grouped to address the following topics: reasons for/against FP, patient priorities, informational needs, support, wellness, and satisfaction with information. Strength of the theme was determined by examining the frequency of a response.

Results: Patients who chose FP versus those who did not choose FP and men versus women proved to be more similar than different in their reasoning, priorities, and informational needs for FP decisions. Patients who chose FP identified a "concern for future fertility" as a top reason to do so and "parenthood" as a top priority. For those who did not choose FP, "cancer treatment" was identified as their top priority. For patients identifying financial barriers, 50% of them were able to overcome this to pursue FP.

Conclusions: Reproductive-aged patients diagnosed with a new cancer should be referred to a reproductive specialist and provided the opportunity to come to a fertility decision on their own before initiating cancer treatment.

Citing Articles

Practices, Attitudes, and Knowledge Among Healthcare Providers and Oncologists in China Regarding Male Fertility Preservation.

Huang C, Xu Y, Kuang L, Lan Q, Hu J, Zhu W Front Reprod Health. 2022; 4:801378.

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Early-Onset Cancers in Adults: A Review of Epidemiology, Supportive Care Needs and Future Research Priorities.

Hamilton A, Donnelly D, Fitzpatrick D, Coleman H Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(16).

PMID: 36011014 PMC: 9406462. DOI: 10.3390/cancers14164021.

Psychometric Properties of the Fertility Intention Scale among Patients with Breast Cancer of Childbearing Age in Mainland China.

Zhu F, Liu C, Qi J, Bian Y, Pang L, Lu Q Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2022; 9(8):100100.

PMID: 35860605 PMC: 9289818. DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2022.100100.

Fertility Preservation Discussions Between Young Adult Rectal Cancer Survivors and Their Providers: Sex-Specific Prevalence and Correlates.

Stal J, Yi S, Cohen-Cutler S, Gallagher P, Barzi A, Freyer D Oncologist. 2022; 27(7):579-586.

PMID: 35427410 PMC: 9255970. DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac052.

Factors Associated With a High Motivation to Undergo Fertility Preservation in Female Cancer Patients.

Di Mattei V, Perego G, Taranto P, Rancoita P, Maglione M, Notarianni L Front Psychol. 2022; 12:782073.

PMID: 34975672 PMC: 8716366. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.782073.

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