Woman with cancer want fertility info

Young female cancer survivors say they want better information on how their treatment will affect future fertility and parenthood, U.S. researchers say. Jessica Gorman and a team from the University of California, San Diego, said their study presented in-depth information on young survivors' experiences navigating decisions about fertility and parenthood after cancer treatment. The study involved 22 American female cancer survivors, ages 18-34, who took part in focus groups. The study authors identified six themes from the women: -- Participants expressed hope about having a family, but many felt anxious that they would be unable to have their own children. -- Even though the women acknowledged a discussion about fertility at the time of diagnosis would have been overwhelming, they felt strongly that they (or their parents) should have been told about both the impact of treatment on their fertility, and the options available before treatment to preserve fertility e.g. freezing eggs. -- Several women said they felt that a young woman was old enough to have this fertility discussion anytime after puberty. -- Many were frustrated with the poor coordination of care between their multiple medical providers. -- Cancer diagnosis and related fertility problems introduce relationship challenges. -- Decisions about parenthood are complicated. The findings were published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.