Fertility Preservation and Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Patients: Physician Communication Challenges

Purpose: The doctor-parent.-adolescent triad is a unique challenge, particularly in the area of fertility preservation for adolescents with cancer. This paper provides a preliminary exploration into the barriers experienced by cancer related fertility issues with patients aged 12-18. Methods: This study used a subset of the data from qualitative interviews with pediatric oncologists. Results: The majority of physicians agreed that fertility preservation conversations were awkward because of limited options and resources for the technology as well as the existence of a fine line between establishing a sense of trust between doctor and patient. while excluding parents. Conclusions: Healthcare providers need training on flow and when to broach fertility issues with patients, emphasizing open communication and early disclosure. (C) 2009 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.