Fertility preservation decisions and outcomes of young women with breast cancer.

Abstract

e12520 Background: As breast cancer (BC) survival improves, fertility preservation (FP) counselling prior to initiating gonadotoxic chemotherapy for women of child-bearing age becomes more important. This study explores the factors that influence the decisions to pursue FP before and after breast cancer treatment and the FP outcomes. Methods: An IRB approved web-based survey examining decisions about FP, factors influencing decisions, and post-decision regret was administered to English and Spanish speaking women (age 18-45) diagnosed with stage I-III BC. All women received education and counselling by a MSK Fertility Nurse Specialist prior to initiating cancer treatment at MSKCC in 2009-2017. Additional data was extracted from the medical record. Results: 211 women with BC (82% ER+, 19% HER-2+, 12% triple negative) with a mean age of 34 (age range 20-45) participated in this study. At the time of diagnosis 128 (61%) women were married/living with partner and 46 (22%) women had children. 151 (72%) wanted (additional) children, 48 (23%) were unsure if they wanted (additional) children and 12 (6%) did not want (additional) children. Of the 151 women who desired (additional) children, 94 underwent FP pre-treatment and 3 post-treatment. Of 48 unsure women, 14 underwent FP. A total of 115 women underwent FP before treatment: 73 froze eggs and 49 froze embryos. After treatment 28 (13%) women met with a reproductive endocrinologist and 13 underwent FP: 9 froze eggs and 4 froze embryo. The average number of eggs frozen was 14 pre-treatment and 18 post-treatment. The average number of embryos frozen was 7 both pre- and post-treatment. After completing primary breast cancer treatment, 61 women opted to try to build their family and 42 had children: 35 gave birth and 7 used a surrogate. In a multivariate analysis lower socioeconomic status and non-white race were predictive of discordance between desire for FP and completion of FP before treatment (p < 0.05). 65% of patients reported cost of freezing eggs/embryos was important in their decision. Insurance did not cover any FP treatment for 56/115 (49%) of women and 34% (39/115) of women paid $10,000 or more for their FP. Participants reported the ability to feel hopeful about their future (82%) and fear of regret (80%) were the most important factors when making their FP decision. 83% (176/211) of women believe they made the right FP decision and 80% would make the same decision again. Women had less regret if they underwent FP. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the importance of discussing FP with women with BC of child-bearing age, regardless of race or economic status. Fertility preservation is often successful in women with BC. Regardless of pregnancy outcomes, women felt that having FP offered them a sense of control and hope for the future during a vulnerable time in their lives with low risk of regret.