Fertility-related experiences after breast cancer diagnosis in the Sister and Two Sister Studies

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Cancer
• Personal Author:
  Leah, Hawkins Bressler ; Mersereau, Jennifer E ; Anderson, Chelsea ; Rodriguez, Juan L ; Hodgson, Elizabeth ; Weinberg, Clarice R ; Sandler, Dale P ; Nichols, Hazel B
• Description:
  Background:
  
  Commonly-used chemotherapies can be toxic to the ovaries. Most studies evaluating receipt of fertility counseling for women in their reproductive years were performed in specific settings, limiting generalizability.
  
  Methods:
  
  A nationwide sample of US women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45 completed a survey assessing the prevalence of fertility counseling. Age-adjusted log-binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for fertility counseling.
  
  Results:
  
  Among 432 survivors diagnosed during 2004–2011, 288 (67%) had not discussed the effects of treatment on fertility with a healthcare provider before or during treatment. Fertility discussion was associated with younger age (for <35 vs 40+ years, PR: 3.49, CI: 2.66–4.58) and lower parity (for parity 1 vs. 2, PR: 1.81, CI: 1.29, 2.53). Twenty percent of respondents reported that they were interested in future fertility (87/432) at the time of their diagnosis, but not all (66/87) received counseling on the impact of treatment on their fertility, and few (8/87) utilized fertility preservation strategies. Among women with a fertility interest who provided reasons for not taking steps to preserve fertility (N=68), reasons cited included concern for adverse impact on cancer treatment (56%), lack of knowledge (26%), decision to not have a child (24%), and cost (18%).
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Across multiple treatment settings, most reproductive-age women diagnosed with breast cancer did not discuss fertility with a healthcare provider or use fertility preservation strategies. Discussing the potential impact of cancer treatment on future fertility is an important aspect of patient education.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Article Breast Cancer Breast Neoplasms Cohort Studies Female Fertility Fertility Counseling Fertility Preservation Humans Siblings

  More +
• Source:
  Cancer. 125(15):2675-2683
• Pubmed ID:
  31012960
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6935370
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  Z01 ES044005-10/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; Z01 ES044005/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  125
• Issue:
  15
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8523df121ced08bbb2da6675b60e5fc91cad38ca48a93b3be9bfae3ba3aba6cf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/83848/cdc_83848_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 358.53 KB ]