Do doctors discuss fertility issues before they treat young patients with cancer? (original) (raw)
Related papers
Inconsistencies in fertility preservation for young people with cancer in the UK
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2021
ObjectiveTo assess the utilisation of and funding structure for fertility preservation for children diagnosed with cancer in the UK.DesignSurvey of paediatric oncologists/haematologists. Questionnaires were sent electronically with reminder notifications to non-responders.SettingUK Paediatric Oncology Principal Treatment Centres (PTCs).ParticipantsPaediatric oncologists/haematologists with an interest in the effects of treatment on fertility representing the 20 PTCs across the UK.Main outcome measuresReferral practices, sources and length of funding for storage of gametes or gonadal tissue for children diagnosed with cancer in the preceding 12 months.ResultsResponses were received from 18 PTCs (90%) with responses to 98.3% of questions. All centres had referred patients for fertility preservation: ovarian tissue collection/storage 100% (n=18 centres), sperm banking 100% (n=17; one centre was excluded due to the age range of their patients), testicular tissue storage 83% (n=15), matu...
Fertility issues among pediatric oncology patients – short communication
Romanian Journal of Pediatrics
Childhood cancer survival rates are constantly improving due to treatment. Fertility research has focused on adult cancer patients, but studies among childhood cancer survivors who reach reproductive age are rare and mainly based on small numbers of patients. This is surprising as childhood cancer survivors constitute a distinct, ever-growing population that may have temporarily or permanently impaired fertility due to cancer treatment. Thus, the basic scientific concern specific to the pediatric population has focused on improving protection techniques and cryopreserved tissue transfer. Research on preservation techniques confirms the safety of surgical retrieval of gonadal (ovarian and testicular) tissue for cryopreservation. Outcomes may improve, but it is clear that large registries of long-term follow-up of patients are needed. Current research efforts imply the need to develop a national strategy in each country to ensure the education and information of pediatric patients und...
Fertility Preservation in Children and Adolescents With Cancer
Urology, 2016
Fertility preservation counseling should be discussed and considered in the pediatric and adolescent population. Oocyte cryopreservation and embryo cryopreservation are the standard of care for fertility preservation in girls and ovarian tissue cryopreservation is still considered experimental. Sperm cryopreservation is the standard of care for fertility preservation in boys, whereas testicular tissue cryopreservation is experimental. Oncofertility is the field of medicine in which oncologist and reproductive fertility specialist work together to address the reproductive health of patients with cancer.
Cancer Epidemiology, 2016
Fertility preservation (FP) is an important topic of discussion in the field of oncology, particularly in pediatric oncology. Despite the awareness of severe impact of infertility on quality of life and different guidelines available in this area, the options in FP are not routinely discussed with the pediatric cancer patients and their parents. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey report concerned to FP counseling and procedures in pediatric and adolescent cancer patients in Switzerland. This survey was conducted from June 2014 to October 2014 on the counseling and procedures performed between 2009 and 2013; the questionnaire was completed by one of the professional from hematology/oncology centers in Switzerland. Currently, only four out of nine centers have a program for FP. In 2013, 45/301 (15%) patients received FP counseling and 36/301 (12%) underwent an FP procedure. The most commonly performed procedures from 2009 to 2013 were administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (3%) and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue in females (3%) and cryopreservation of sperms in males (6%); the most frequently cited reason for the absence of FP counseling was lack of time (55%). Therefore, this survey should help to develop and harmonize practices with respect to FP counseling and procedures in Switzerland, and to establish FP as a standard of care during cancer treatment. 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Fertility Preservation in Young Cancer Patients
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 2009
As a result of advances in treatment, almost 80% of children and adolescents who receive a diagnosis of cancer become long-term survivors. The increased survival rate of children and adolescents with cancer has resulted in a major interest in the long-term effects of cancer treatment on the possibility for future fertility. Currently established methods for the preservation of fertility are available only for pubertal males and females. Pubertal male cancer patients should be encouraged to freeze numerous sperm samples even when sperm count and motility are poor. In these cases, intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a powerful technique compared with intrauterine insemination since thawed sperm samples with poor parameters can produce relatively high fertilization rates resulting in normal pregnancies and deliveries. Married pubertal women should be proposed ovulation induction, follicular aspiration, and fertilization with husband sperm. Single women could benefit from vitrification of oocytes. This requires a delay of about 3 weeks in the commencement of chemotherapy to enable follicular growth. Fertility preservation for prepubertal patients is more of a problem. Young girls could be offered cryopreservation of gametes in the gonadal tissue. Cryopreservation of testicular tissue was suggested for fertility preservation for young boys, but this method is totally experimental and not currently offered. Discussing future fertility is part of the consultation of young female and male patients facing potentially gonadotoxic cancer therapy. It is the role of reproductive specialists to create various options in their laboratory to preserve fertility potential of cancer patients.
Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology, 2017
There is a growing interest in fertility preservation as emerging research is highlighting the prevalence of infertility among young cancer survivors and its negative impact on quality of life. Previous qualitative research has identified barriers of fertility preservation care among professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of these barriers among pediatric and adolescent oncology healthcare professionals and evaluate factors that influence them. Based on previously identified barriers and experts' input, a questionnaire was developed and sent to 88 professionals drawn from the multidisciplinary pediatric and adolescent oncology team of a large Principal Treatment Centre. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate which factors influence professional adherence to fertility preservation care. In total, 48 (55%) professionals responded and were included in the analysis. All pediatric and adolescent oncology healthcare professionals reported at least o...