Many have fertility concerns; few pursue preservation strategies.
Young women with breast cancer who are interested in getting pregnant face potentially delaying conception for many years until treatment is complete or the real possibility that natural- or treatment-induced menopause may develop. To shed light on how these patients make decisions regarding fertility, investigators report initial results of an ongoing, prospective, multicenter, cohort study (Helping Ourselves, Helping Others: The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study).
The researchers evaluated 620 early-stage breast cancer patients (median age, 37) identified from pathology records who completed a baseline survey covering fertility issues as well as socioeconomic, medical, and treatment history.
Results were as follows:
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead
Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation
Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead
Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation
Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)