Fertility-Related Wishes and Concerns of Adolescent Cancer Patients and Their Parents.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Within a multicenter European study, we explored fertility-related wishes, concerns, and decision-making of adolescent cancer patients and their parents. Patients and Methods: Patients and parents were each asked to complete a fertility-related questionnaire 3 months after initial diagnosis. In total, 113 of 142 (79.6%) eligible patients participated; 53.1% were male and the median age was 16 years (range 13-20 years). The questionnaire was completed by 111 parents. Univariate analyses were conducted using nonparametric methods with alpha = 5%. For multivariate analyses, binary logistic regression was conducted. Results: Both patients (86.1%) and parents (96.3%) indicated a strong desire for biological parenthood for themselves/their children. Female patients (odds ratio [OR] = 3.70; confidence interval [CI] 1.43-9.50) and parents (OR = 2.70; CI 1.21-6.00) were more likely to report a high fear of cancer recurrence. Patients who estimated their risk for fertility impairment being high were more likely to be concerned about their fertility (OR = 5.69; CI 1.41-22.98). Parents who received fertility preservation information were more likely to recommend its use to their children (OR = 5.50; CI 1.07-28.40), whereas parents of female patients were less likely to do so (OR = 0.13; CI 0.03-0.61). Conclusions: The prospect of fertility following cancer treatment is important for adolescent cancer patients and their parents, yet it is associated with many concerns. Counseling regarding fertility preservation can be more effective when the individual needs of patients and their parents are taken into consideration.