title: Fertility management after breast cancer diagnosis: a qualitative investigation of women's experiences of and recommendations for professional care.
abstract: Breast cancer and its treatment in reproductive-age women can reduce fertility and compromise family formation. To learn about women's experiences of fertility-related cancer care we interviewed 10 women (aged 26-45), at least one year postdiagnosis. Thematic analysis revealed that all women, including one who chose to be child-free, valued fertility and motherhood. They reported experiencing varied fertility-related care, from support for fertility preservation to apparent disregard of their fertility concerns. Women's needs were heterogeneous, but all wanted health care providers to communicate fertility options and avoid assumptions about women's fertility desires while working to extend each woman's life.
authors.affiliation: The Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Maggie.Kirkman@monash.edu
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirkman
authors.forename: Catharyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neil
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Winship
authors.forename: G Bruce
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Missen
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Jane R W
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents