title: Perception and needs of reproductive specialists with regard to fertility preservation of young breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment-related infertility is one of the important quality-of-life issues in young breast cancer (YBC) patients. Although existing guidelines recommend supporting fertility preservation (FP) of YBC, the perceptions of reproductive specialists (RS) has not been evaluated. We investigated the perceptions and needs of RS with regard to FP of YBC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was sent to 423 certified RS registered to the Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine to self-evaluate their perceptions and needs regarding FP in YBC patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred RS (47 %) responded to the survey. 99 % responded that RS should be engaged in FP of YBC patients. 88 % responded that they would like to treat YBC patients, while 46 % responded that cancer treatment is more important than childbirth, even when the patient is recurrence-free 5 years after primary treatment. Respondents affiliated to private clinics were more likely to accept both fertilized and unfertilized egg preservation than those affiliated with academic or general hospitals. 70 % responded that they were anxious about treating breast cancer patients: concerns regarding a greater or unknown risk of recurrence (66 %), insufficient knowledge about breast cancer (47 %), and lack of a patient's spouse/partner (24 %) were identified as major barriers in supporting FP for YBC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RS recognize the need for FP in YBC patients and are willing to participate in their care. Affiliation of RS was related to a positive attitude to egg preservation. Various concerns regarding FP among RS indicate the need for evidence that supports the safety of FP, inter-disciplinary communication, and practice guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Breast and Medical Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan, cshimizu@ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tomoyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizota
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012098:Reproduction; D013038:Specialization