Uwe Güth1, Dorothy Jane Huang2, Johannes Bitzer3, Brigitte Frey Tirri4, Rebecca Moffat5. 1. Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Breast Center "Senosuisse", Brauerstrasse 15, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel (UHB), Women's Hospital, Division for Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Spitalstrasse 21, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: uwe.gueth@unibas.ch. 2. University Hospital Basel (UHB), Women's Hospital, Division for Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology, Spitalstrasse 21, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. 3. UHB, Women's Hospital, Clinic for Gynecologic Social Medicine and Psychosomatics, Spitalstrasse 21, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. 4. Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rheinstrasse 26, CH-4410 Liestal, Switzerland. 5. UHB, Women's Hospital, Clinic for Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Spitalstrasse 21, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland; Fertisuisse, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tannwaldstrasse 2, CH-4600 Olten, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ METHODS: We analyzed an unselected, consecutive cohort of young breast cancer (BC) patients (≤40 years, n = 100) with regard to the contraceptive methods used at the time of diagnosis. Based on this data, we assessed the individual need for contraceptive counseling before cancer therapy. Secondly, in a study-specific self-report questionnaire, we surveyed 101 medical oncologists with the aim of evaluating attitudes towards contraception and how young patients are being counseled in the practical clinical setting. RESULTS: In 62% of our cohort of young BC patients, we identified situations in which contraceptive counseling was necessary at the time of BC diagnosis. The patients did not use contraception or used an ineffective method (TIER III/IV, 42%), or were using hormonal methods (12%) or IUDs (8%). Almost all respondents of the survey (99%) stated that contraception is an important aspect in the surveillance of young BC patients and the vast majority (90%) discussed this item before starting therapy. Only 20% of the respondents reported that they a) inform the patients that reliable contraception is necessary before starting therapy, b) ask whether contraceptive methods are used during ongoing therapy, and c) regularly refer their patients to specialist counseling by a gynecologist. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of young women require contraceptive counseling after newly diagnosed BC. Oncologists should be aware that the use of reliable contraceptive methods should not only be discussed before starting therapy, but also during ongoing therapy. Oncologists should consider actively referring their young patients to gynecologists to ensure proper contraceptive counseling.
BACKGROUND/ METHODS: We analyzed an unselected, consecutive cohort of young breast cancer (BC) patients (≤40 years, n = 100) with regard to the contraceptive methods used at the time of diagnosis. Based on this data, we assessed the individual need for contraceptive counseling before cancer therapy. Secondly, in a study-specific self-report questionnaire, we surveyed 101 medical oncologists with the aim of evaluating attitudes towards contraception and how young patients are being counseled in the practical clinical setting. RESULTS: In 62% of our cohort of young BC patients, we identified situations in which contraceptive counseling was necessary at the time of BC diagnosis. The patients did not use contraception or used an ineffective method (TIER III/IV, 42%), or were using hormonal methods (12%) or IUDs (8%). Almost all respondents of the survey (99%) stated that contraception is an important aspect in the surveillance of young BC patients and the vast majority (90%) discussed this item before starting therapy. Only 20% of the respondents reported that they a) inform the patients that reliable contraception is necessary before starting therapy, b) ask whether contraceptive methods are used during ongoing therapy, and c) regularly refer their patients to specialist counseling by a gynecologist. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of young women require contraceptive counseling after newly diagnosed BC. Oncologists should be aware that the use of reliable contraceptive methods should not only be discussed before starting therapy, but also during ongoing therapy. Oncologists should consider actively referring their young patients to gynecologists to ensure proper contraceptive counseling.
Authors: Sarah F Lindsay; Elisabeth J Woodhams; Katharine O White; Mari-Lynn Drainoni; Natrina L Johnson; Leanne Yinusa-Nyahkoon Journal: J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol Date: 2019-10-21 Impact factor: 2.223
Authors: Matteo Lambertini; Claudia Massarotti; Julie Havas; Barbara Pistilli; Anne-Laure Martin; Alexandra Jacquet; Charles Coutant; Florence Coussy; Asma Dhaini Mérimèche; Florence Lerebours; Christine Rousset-Jablonski; Christelle Jouannaud; Olivier Rigal; Marion Fournier; Patrick Soulie; Maria Alice Franzoi; Lucia Del Mastro; Ann H Partridge; Fabrice André; Ines Vaz-Luis; Antonio Di Meglio Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-09-01