Does a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients affect the likelihood of fertility preservation discussion and referral?. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Srikanthan, Amirrtha; Amir, Eitan; Warner, Ellen
• Is Part Of: Breast. Volume 27(2016)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 26
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Breast cancer -- Young adults -- Fertility preservation -- Documentation -- Delivery of care; Breast -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Breast -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Breast -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2016.02.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-9776

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To assess whether a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients, including a nurse navigator, improves the frequency of: a) fertility discussion documentation and b) fertility preservation (FP) referrals. Methods: A retrospective chart review and prospective survey were undertaken of breast cancer patients diagnosed at age 40 or younger between 2011 and 2013 who received adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at two academic cancer centers in Toronto, Canada. The Odette Cancer Centre (OCC) has a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients while Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) does not. Patient demographics, tumor pathology, treatment and fertility discussion documentation prior to systemic chemotherapy administration were extracted from patient records. Prospective surveys were administered to the same cohort to corroborate data collected. Results: Eighty-one patient charts were reviewed at both OCC and PM. Forty-seven and 49 at OCC and PM returned surveys for a response rate of 58% and 60% respectively. Chart reviews demonstrated no difference in the frequency of fertility discussion documentation (78% versus 75% for OCC and PM, p = 0.71); however, surveys demonstrated higher rates of recall of fertility discussion at OCC (96% versus 80%, p = 0.02). A greater proportion of women were offered FP referrals at OCC, as observed in chart reviews (56% versus 41%, p = 0.09), and surveys (73% versus 51%, p = 0.04). Time to initiation of chemotherapy did not differ between women who underwent FP and those who did not. Conclusion: A dedicated program for young breast cancer patients is associated with a higher frequency of FP referrals without delaying systemic therapy. Highlights: Fertility discussion rates and fertility preservation (FP) usage is low among young women with breast cancer. A dedicated program with a nurse navigator is associated with higher frequency of FP referrals. FP usage does not appear to significantly delay time to onset of systemic chemotherapy.