Fertility and cancer treatment-related decisions among young women with breast or gynaecological cancer - a qualitative study

Citation

Sobota A & Ozakinci G (2016) Fertility and cancer treatment-related decisions among young women with breast or gynaecological cancer - a qualitative study. 14th International Congress of Behavioural Medicine "Behavioural Medicine: Making an Impact in the Modern World", Melbourne, Australia. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23 (Suppl 1), pp. S153-S154. https://link.springer.com/journal/12529/volumes-and-issues/23-1/supplement

Abstract
Introduction: Given the improving rates of cancer survival, fertility becomes an increasingly important survivorship issue among young female cancer patients. This study explored how young women diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancer made their cancer treatment-related decisions and to what extent these decisions were affected by fertility issues and fear of cancer recurrence. Methods: Twenty-four young women who had finished active cancer treatment were recruited through clinics and online outlets, and interviewed over the phone about the importance of fertility at the time of treatment decision-making. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis and the Shared Decision Making model was applied to frame the results. Results: Six themes were identified, 3 of which focused specifically on treatment-related decision-making in the context of maintaining fertility. The findings suggest that prior to treatments women engaged in a process of balancing survival and fertility which served to clarify their priorities with respect to the treatment outcome. When making treatment decisions, women wished: a) to involve their physicians and their significant others, b) to be informed about treatments, and c) for their priorities to be taken into account as much as possible in the process. This is in line with the basic premises of the Shared Decision Making Model. Conclusions: This study provides evidence as to how young women wish to make cancer treatment-related decisions in the context of maintaining fertility and proposes Shared Decision Making model as the optimal framework to use by physicians in the oncology or oncofertility consultation setting.

Journal
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine: Volume 23, Issue Suppl 1