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How are women supported in making decisions regarding fertility preservation after a breast cancer diagnosis?

24 September 2020
Volume 29 · Issue 17

Abstract

Although there has been an increase in fertility preservation treatment options in recent years, existing evidence would suggest that many young women who have breast cancer do not feel well supported in making decisions in this area. A breast cancer diagnosis and the possibility of becoming infertile are known to cause psychological issues for young women and many find it difficult to make decisions at this time, causing them a great deal of stress and anxiety. Given the need for patient-centred care, this literature review looked at the decision-making support given to women with a diagnosis of breast cancer as part of fertility preservation treatment. The review found that women lacked support and struggled to make decisions at this critical point in their lives. The findings of the review suggest that women would benefit from a wide range of decision support interventions prior to and following diagnosis.

The most common form of cancer affecting women between the ages of 25 and 49 years is breast cancer, (Cancer Research UK, 2020; Office for National Statistics, 2018). These women will be recommended treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, medical and surgical interventions and, increasingly, hormonal therapy such as adjuvant endocrine therapy (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2018). The choice of treatment depends on multiple factors, including the person's overall physical condition, patient preference, and potential side effects. All treatment options can have an impact on the woman's ability to conceive and are not without their risks. For example, adjuvant therapies, such as chemotherapy, can result in a decline in ovarian function, leading to premature menopause (Hickey et al, 2009; Shah and O'Regan, 2018).

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