Knowledge, attitudes and practice of physicians towards fertility and pregnancy-related issues in youngBRCA-mutated breast cancer patients.
- Lambertini M Department of Medical Oncology, U.O.C. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy. Electronic address: matteo.lambertini@unige.it.
- Di Maio M Medical Oncology, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- Poggio F Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Sviluppo Terapie Innovative, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
- Pagani O Breast Unit and Institute of Oncology of Southern Switzerland, Geneva University Hospitals, Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research, Lugano Viganello, Switzerland.
- Curigliano G University of Milan, Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, European School of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
- Mastro LD Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Sviluppo Terapie Innovative, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
- Paluch-Shimon S Department of Oncology, Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Loibl S German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, and Centre for Haematology and Oncology, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Partridge AH Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA, USA.
- Azim HA Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Peccatori FA Fertility and Procreation Unit, Gynecologic Oncology Department, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, European School of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
- Demeestere I Fertility Clinic, Research Laboratory on Human Reproduction, CUB-Erasme and Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
- 2019-03-28
Published in:
- Reproductive biomedicine online. - 2019
BRCA mutations
breast cancer
fertility preservation
physicians
pregnancy
survey
Adult
Breast Neoplasms
Female
Fertility
Fertility Preservation
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Physicians
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
Surveys and Questionnaires
English
RESEARCH QUESTION
This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and practice of physicians towards fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients.
DESIGN
Physicians attending two international breast cancer conferences completed a 26-item questionnaire exploring fertility preservation, pregnancy during (BCP) or after breast cancer. A statistical comparison was carried out of the responses exploring the same issues in young breast cancer patients overall or specifically in those with BRCA mutations.
RESULTS
The survey was completed by 273 physicians. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (33% versus 40%; P = 0.009) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues during chemotherapy (74% versus 81%; P = 0.001) were less commonly suggested in BRCA-mutated patients than in the overall breast cancer population. 42% of respondents agreed or were neutral on the statement that ovarian stimulation should not be considered safe in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients. 45% and 30% agreed or were neutral on the statement that pregnancy in breast cancer survivors may increase the risk of recurrence in BRCA-mutated patients or in the overall breast cancer population, respectively (P < 0.001). 15% and 3% disagreed that transplanting the cryopreserved ovarian tissue can be considered safe in BRCA-mutated patients or in the overall breast cancer population, respectively (P < 0.001). 33.3% were against the addition of platinum agents as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in BRCA-mutated patients with BCP.
CONCLUSIONS
Several misconceptions on fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues in breast cancer patients persist even among physicians directly involved in breast cancer care. Focused research efforts to address these issues in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients and education to improve physicians' knowledge and adherence to available guidelines are urgently needed.
This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and practice of physicians towards fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients.
DESIGN
Physicians attending two international breast cancer conferences completed a 26-item questionnaire exploring fertility preservation, pregnancy during (BCP) or after breast cancer. A statistical comparison was carried out of the responses exploring the same issues in young breast cancer patients overall or specifically in those with BRCA mutations.
RESULTS
The survey was completed by 273 physicians. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (33% versus 40%; P = 0.009) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues during chemotherapy (74% versus 81%; P = 0.001) were less commonly suggested in BRCA-mutated patients than in the overall breast cancer population. 42% of respondents agreed or were neutral on the statement that ovarian stimulation should not be considered safe in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients. 45% and 30% agreed or were neutral on the statement that pregnancy in breast cancer survivors may increase the risk of recurrence in BRCA-mutated patients or in the overall breast cancer population, respectively (P < 0.001). 15% and 3% disagreed that transplanting the cryopreserved ovarian tissue can be considered safe in BRCA-mutated patients or in the overall breast cancer population, respectively (P < 0.001). 33.3% were against the addition of platinum agents as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in BRCA-mutated patients with BCP.
CONCLUSIONS
Several misconceptions on fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues in breast cancer patients persist even among physicians directly involved in breast cancer care. Focused research efforts to address these issues in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients and education to improve physicians' knowledge and adherence to available guidelines are urgently needed.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.11.031
- PMID 30914152
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/229707
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