Only half of young cancer patients report a discussion on fertility preservation, researchers find

Solely half of individuals with early-onset cancers reported discussing fertility preservation choices previous to their oncology remedies, in accordance with outcomes of a cross-sectional research revealed Nov. 12 in JAMA Community Open.

The questionnaire was administered by investigators with the Reproductive Well being After Most cancers Prognosis and Therapy (REACT) research, an initiative led by Andreana Holowatyj, Ph.D., MSCI, assistant professor of Medication at Vanderbilt-Ingram Most cancers Heart, in partnership with 23 neighborhood organizations and a number of other affected person advocacy colleagues. REACT goals to enhance clinicians’ and researchers’ understanding of the unmet care wants of adults youthful than 50 with a most cancers prognosis, together with fertility, sexual well being, physique esteem, bodily exercise and private relationships.

“From an early-onset most cancers prognosis by way of to surveillance and survivorship, we all know there are distinctive care wants for sufferers and their households that have to be thought of,” stated Holowatyj, the research’s senior writer.

“That stated, we don’t but have the ‘finest’ methods to ship complete oncology care to all younger sufferers, no matter age, geographic location, entry to care, self-identified race and ethnicity, intercourse or gender id. The REACT research was developed in partnership with sufferers to seize a few of these necessary insights into what younger sufferers expertise, really feel and talk about with their most cancers care supplier—in order that we are able to work to successfully handle these unmet wants shifting ahead.”

Younger sufferers with thyroid, lung, ovarian and colorectal cancers reported the bottom prevalence of a fertility preservation dialogue with a well being care skilled concerned of their most cancers care. Solely 21.4% of sufferers with ovarian most cancers reported a dialogue about fertility preservation. The odds reporting a dialogue had been 44.2% for sufferers with colorectal most cancers, 21% for lung most cancers, and three.6% for thyroid most cancers. The affected person inhabitants represented 30 forms of early-onset cancers.

This research included 473 sufferers between the ages of 18 and 49 who participated in REACT worldwide. The sufferers had been identified between 2013 and 2021. Holowatyj then established the Preserving Fertility After Colorectal Most cancers (PREFACE) research in late 2021.

“We wish all younger sufferers identified with most cancers to get complete, high-quality oncology care, which incorporates reproductive well being care, like we ship right here at Vanderbilt,” Holowatyj stated.

“Our discovery that 1 in each 2 sufferers in REACT reported not having had a dialogue on fertility preservation choices with their well being care skilled earlier than beginning early-onset most cancers therapy is alarming. However the potential downside that not all sufferers might have remembered this dialog, our clinically vital findings make clear the essential have to tailor methods that may ship concordant reproductive well being care to this rising affected person inhabitants.”

This research is the primary set of information and outcomes launched by REACT. Holowatyj now plans to check how most cancers remedies influence reproductive well being

The research’s lead writer is a current Vanderbilt College alumna and former trainee within the Holowatyj Laboratory, Samantha Keller. Different Vanderbilt authors who contributed to the research embrace Rebecca Babyak, Fei Ye, Ph.D., MSPH, Rajiv Agarwal, MD, Kristen Ciombor, MD, Timothy Geiger, MD, MMHC, Cathy Eng, MD, Michelle Roach, MD, and Digna Velez Edwards, Ph.D.