Fertility information needs and concerns post-treatment contribute to lowered quality of life among young adult female cancer survivors Journal Article

   


Authors: Benedict, C.; Thom, B.; Friedman, D. N.; Pottenger, E.; Raghunathan, N.; Kelvin, J. F.
Article Title: Fertility information needs and concerns post-treatment contribute to lowered quality of life among young adult female cancer survivors
Abstract: Background: Cancer treatment may lead to premature menopause and infertility. Young adult female cancer survivors (YAFCS) are often concerned about their fertility and future family-building options, but research is limited on how concerns may affect more general quality of life (QOL) domains. This study examined how fertility factors relate to QOL among YAFCS who received gonadotoxic therapy. Method: A national sample of YAFCS completed an online, anonymous survey. The survey included investigator-designed questions about perceived fertility information needs (five items; Cronbach’s α =.83) and general QOL (four items; α =.89), the Reproductive Concerns after Cancer Scale (RCACS) and Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS). Analyses included Pearson’s correlation, t tests, and stepwise regression. Results: Participants (N = 314) were an average of 30 years old (SD = 4.1) and 5 years (SD = 5.4) post-treatment; 31% reported being infertile and 19% had undergone fertility preservation (FP). Overall, QOL was relatively high (M = 7.3, SD = 1.9, range 0–10) and did not vary by fertility status (t[272] =.743, p =.46), prior FP (t[273] =.53, p =.55) or sociodemographic/clinical factors (p’s >.05) except socioeconomic indicators (p’s <.05).In separate models, greater unmet fertility information needs (β = −.19, p =.004) and, among fertile women, greater reproductive concerns (β = −.26, p =.001) related to lower QOL. Among fertile women without prior FP, greater decisional distress about future FP related to lower QOL (β = −.19, p =.03). Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that unaddressed fertility information needs, concerns, and decision distress may affect general QOL among post-treatment YAFCS who hope to have children in the future. Future work should identify ways to optimally incorporate fertility counseling and support resources into survivorship care programs, including referrals to reproductive specialists as appropriate. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords: adult; major clinical study; outcome assessment; quality of life; health survey; infertility; cancer survivor; distress syndrome; rating scale; female fertility; female infertility; fertility preservation; secondary analysis; cancer survivors; qol; human; female; priority journal; article; health decision making; young adult cancer; decisional conflict scale; reproductive concerns after cancer scale
Journal Title: Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume: 26
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0941-4355
Publisher: Springer Verlag  
Date Published: 2018-07-01
Start Page: 2209
End Page: 2215
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-017-4006-z
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 29387996
PMCID: PMC5984121
DOI/URL:

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85043330491&doi=10.1007%2fs00520-017-4006-z&partnerID=40&md5=b27b792169b88864da82b552796f5442
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 July 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Danielle Novetsky Friedman
    110 Friedman
  2. Elaine M Pottenger
    12 Pottenger
  3. Bridgette Thom
    95 Thom
  4. Joanne F Kelvin
    91 Kelvin
  5. Nirupa Jaya Raghunathan
    38 Raghunathan
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