Burning Questions in the Oncofertility Counseling of Young Breast Cancer Patients

Luca Arecco; Marta Perachino; Alessandra Damassi; Maria Maddalena Latocca; Davide Soldato; Giacomo Vallome; Francesca Parisi; Maria Grazia Razeti; Cinzia Solinas; Marco Tagliamento; Stefano Spinaci; Claudia Massarotti; Matteo Lambertini

doi:10.1177/1178223420954179

Burning Questions in the Oncofertility Counseling of Young Breast Cancer Patients

Breast Cancer (Auckl). 2020 Sep 4:14:1178223420954179. doi: 10.1177/1178223420954179. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Luca Arecco^{1

2}, Marta Perachino^{1

2}, Alessandra Damassi^{1

2}, Maria Maddalena Latocca^{1

2}, Davide Soldato^{1

2}, Giacomo Vallome^{1

2}, Francesca Parisi^{1

2}, Maria Grazia Razeti^{1

2}, Cinzia Solinas³, Marco Tagliamento^{1

2}, Stefano Spinaci⁴, Claudia Massarotti⁵, Matteo Lambertini^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
² Department of Medical Oncology, U.O.C. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, Azienda Tutela della Salute Sardegna, Hospital A.Segni Ozieri, Sassari, Italy.
⁴ Division of Breast Surgery, Ospedale Villa Scassi e ASL3, Genova, Italy.
⁵ Physiopathology of Human Reproduction Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.

Abstract

The improved prognosis of breast cancer patients makes survivorship issues an area of crucial importance. In this regard, an increased attention is needed toward the development of potential anticancer treatment-related long-term side-effects, including gonadal failure and infertility in young women. Therefore, fertility preservation and family planning are crucial issues to be addressed in all young women of reproductive age with newly diagnosed cancer. Despite a growing availability of data on the efficacy and safety of fertility preservation options and the fact that conceiving after prior history of breast cancer has become more accepted over time, there are still several gray zones in this field so that many physicians remain uncomfortable to deal with these topics. The purpose of this review is to answer some of the most controversial questions frequently asked by patients during their oncofertility counseling, in order to provide a detailed and up-to-date overview on the evidence available in this field to physicians involved in the care of young women with breast cancer.

Keywords: BRCA; Breast cancer; fertility preservation; pregnancy; young patients.

Publication types

Review