References

Anazodo A, Ataman-Millhouse L, Jayasinghe Y, Woodruff TK. Oncofertility—an emerging discipline rather than a special consideration. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018; 65:(11) https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.27297

Azim HA, Kroman N, Paesmans M Prognostic impact of pregnancy after breast cancer according to estrogen receptor status: a multicenter retrospective study. J Clin Oncol. 2013; 31:(1)73-79 https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2012.44.2285

Bedoschi G, Oktay K. Current approach to fertility preservation by embryo cryopreservation. Fertil Steril. 2013; 99:(6)1496-1502 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.03.020

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2006; 3:(2)77-101

Breast Cancer Now. Over half of younger women with breast cancer ‘in the dark’ about preserving fertility. 2016. https://tinyurl.com/yxglrkgc (accessed 7 September 2020)

Breast Cancer Now. Eight in ten with breast cancer not told about possible impact on mental health. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/y5j68gwq (accessed 7 September 2020)

British Infertility Counselling Association. Guidelines for good practice in fertility counselling. 2019. https://tinyurl.com/yxt2shu6 (accessed 7 September 2020)

Cancer Research UK. Cancer incidence by age. 2020. https://tinyurl.com/yxf54nlc (accessed 7 September 2020)

The devastating cost of treatment delays. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/yys8nn8l (accessed 7 September 2020)

Corney RH, Swinglehurst AJ. Young childless women with breast cancer in the UK: a qualitative study of their fertility-related experiences, options, and the information given by health professionals. Psychooncology. 2014; 23:(1)20-26 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3365

Department of Health and Social Care. Everyone counts. 2015. https://tinyurl.com/noetehw (accessed 7 September 2020)

Dumalaon-Canaria JA, Prichard I, Hutchinson AD, Wilson C. Fear of cancer recurrence and psychological well-being in women with breast cancer: the role of causal cancer attributions and optimism. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2018; 27:(1) https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.12579

Gewefel H, Salhia B. Breast cancer in adolescent and young adult women. Clin Breast Cancer. 2014; 14:(6)390-395 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2014.06.002

Funding and staffing of NHS mental health providers: still waiting for parity. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/y7dlzgxs (accessed 7 September 2020)

Gorman JR, Usita PM, Madlensky L, Pierce JP. Young breast cancer survivors: their perspectives on treatment decisions and fertility concerns. Cancer Nurs. 2011; 34:(1)32-40 https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0b013e3181e4528d

Hickey M, Peate M, Saunders CM, Friedlander M. Breast cancer in young women and its impact on reproductive function. Hum Reprod Update. 2009; 15:(3)323-339 https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmn064

Hill KA, Nadler T, Mandel R Experience of young women diagnosed with breast cancer who undergo fertility preservation consultation. Clin Breast Cancer. 2012; 12:(2)127-132 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2012.01.002

King JW, Davies MC, Roche N, Abraham JM, Jones AL. Fertility preservation in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer in the UK: a questionnaire study. Oncologist. 2012; 17:(7)910-916 https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0064

Kirkman M, Stern C, Neil S Fertility management after breast cancer diagnosis: a qualitative investigation of women's experiences of and recommendations for professional care. Health Care Women Int. 2013; 34:(1)50-67 https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2012.735729

Lebel S, Beattie S, Arès I, Bielajew C. Young and worried: age and fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Health Psychology. 2013; 32:(6)695-705 https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030186

Lebel S, Rosberger Z, Edgar L, Devins GM. Emotional distress impacts fear of the future among breast cancer survivors not the reverse. J Cancer Surviv. 2009; 3:(2)117-127 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0082-5

Lee RJ, Wakefield A, Foy S, Howell SJ, Wardley AM, Armstrong AC. Facilitating reproductive choices: the impact of health services on the experiences of young women with breast cancer. Psychooncology. 2011; 20:(10)1044-1052 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1826

Linsley P, Kane R, Barker JH. Evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals, 4th edn. London: SAGE Publications; 2019

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009; 6:(7) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Cryopreservation to preserve fertility in people diagnosed with cancer. 2017. https://tinyurl.com/yyf4pe6f (accessed 7 September 2020)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management. NICE uideline NG101. 2018. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng101 (accessed 7 September 2020)

Neter E, Goren S. Infertility centrality in the woman's identity and goal adjustment predict psychological adjustment among women in ongoing fertility treatments. Int J Behav Med. 2017; 24:(6)880-892 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9693-9

NHS England, NHS Improvement. The NHS long term plan. 2019. https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-plan (accessed 7 September 2020)

Nursing and Midwifery Council. The code. Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/gozgmtm (accessed 7 September 2020)

Office for National Statistics. Cancer registration statistics, England: 2016. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/y2mzerbz (accessed 7 September 2020)

Partridge AH, Pagani O, Abulkhair O First international consensus guidelines for breast cancer in young women (BCY1). Breast. 2014; 23:(3)209-220 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2014.03.011

Peate M, Meiser B, Hickey M, Friedlander M. The fertility-related concerns, needs and preferences of younger women with breast cancer: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009; 116:(2)215-223 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0401-6

Rosner R, Rimane E, Vogel A, Rau J, Hagl M. Treating prolonged grief disorder with prolonged grief-specific cognitive behavioral therapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018; 19 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2618-3

Royal College of Psychiatrists. Problems with CBT. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). 2015. https://tinyurl.com/y5qub2fo (accessed 7 September 2020)

Ruddy KJ, Gelber SI, Tamimi RM Prospective study of fertility concerns and preservation strategies in young women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2014; 32:(11)1151-1156 https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2013.52.8877

Runowicz CD, Leach CR, Henry NL American Cancer Society/American Society of Clinical Oncology breast cancer survivorship care guideline. CA Cancer J Clin. 2016; 66:(1)43-73 https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21319

Shah R, O'Regan RM. Adjuvant endocrine therapy. In: Gradishar W. (ed). 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70197-4_2

Snyder KA, Tate AL. What to do now? How women with breast cancer make fertility preservation decisions. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2013; 39:(3)172-178 https://doi.org/10.1136/jfprhc-2011-100286

Stubbings DR, Rees CS, Roberts LD, Kane RT. Comparing in-person to videoconference-based cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2013; 15:(11) https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2564

van den Berg M, van Dijk M, Byrne J Fertility among female survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer: protocol for two pan-European studies (PanCareLIFE). JMIR Res Protoc. 2018; 7:(9) https://doi.org/10.2196/10824

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

24 September 2020
Fertility
02 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).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to clinical or professional articles

  • Unlimited access to the latest news, blogs and video content

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Fertility after cancer
Fertility preservation treatment
Breast cancer
Women's health