Fertility preservation knowledge, counseling, and actions among adolescent and young adult patients with cancer: A population‐based study. Issue 19 (27th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shnorhavorian, Margarett; Harlan, Linda C.; Smith, Ashley Wilder; Keegan, Theresa H.M.; Lynch, Charles F.; Prasad, Pinki K.; Cress, Rosemary D.; Wu, Xiao‐Cheng; Hamilton, Ann S.; Parsons, Helen M.; Keel, Gretchen; Charlesworth, Sarah E.; Schwartz, Stephen M.; AYA HOPE Study Collaborative Group
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 121:Issue 19(2015)
• Page Start: 3499
• Page End: 3506
• Publication Date: 2015-07-27
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cncr29328-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>The fertility of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer can be threatened by treatments, but to the authors' knowledge little is known regarding the extent to which providers discuss this with patients or recommend fertility preservation, or the patient and physician characteristics associated with these interactions.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29328-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>Questionnaires from 459 AYA patients with cancer who were diagnosed between 2007 and 2008 and recruited through 7 US population‐based cancer registries were analyzed using sex‐specific multivariable models. The authors assessed characteristics associated with not discussing therapy effects on fertility or fertility preservation options, and not making fertility preservation arrangements.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29328-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>Males without a medical oncologist were more likely not to be told that therapy might affect fertility than those with a medical oncologist (male odds ratio [OR], 2.28; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.03‐5.00). Individuals without insurance (male OR, 2.91 [95% CI, 1.41‐5.91] and female OR, 5.46 [95% CI, 1.59‐18.72]); those raising children aged <18 years; and, among males only, those who received treatment posing no or a low fertility risk (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.60‐7.16) were more likely not to discuss fertility preservation with providers. Finally, among males, those without a college degree (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.00‐3.97), lacking private insurance (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.16‐7.63), and raising children aged <18 years (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.63‐7.65) were more likely to not make fertility preservation arrangements; too few females had made fertility preservation arrangements for similar analyses to be performed.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr29328-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>Discussion and action surrounding fertility preservation for AYA patients with cancer are associated with medical factors, patient socioeconomic data, and child‐rearing status. These results highlight the need for insurance coverage for fertility preservation and increased awareness of fertility preservation options. <bold><italic>Cancer</italic> 2015;121:3435–43.</bold> © <italic>2015 American Cancer Society</italic>.</p> </sec> </abstract>