Fertility Preferences and Practices Among Young Women With Breast Cancer: Germline Genetic Carriers Versus Noncarriers

Rebecca Lewinsohn, Yue Zheng, Shoshana M. Rosenberg, Kathryn J. Ruddy, Rulla M. Tamimi, Lidia Schapira, Jeffrey Peppercorn, Virginia F. Borges, Steven Come, Craig Snow, Elizabeth S. Ginsburg, Ann H. Partridge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Young women with breast cancer who carry germline genetic pathogenic variants may face distinct fertility concerns, yet limited data exist comparing fertility preferences and practices between carriers and noncarriers. Patients and Methods: Participants in the Young Women's Breast Cancer Study (NCT01468246), a prospective cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer at ≤40 years, who completed a modified Fertility Issues Survey were included in this analysis. Results: Of 1052 eligible participants, 118 (11%) tested positive for a pathogenic variant. Similar proportions (P =. 23) of carriers (46%, [54/118]) and noncarriers (37%, [346/934]) desired more biologic children prediagnosis, and desire decreased similarly postdiagnosis (carriers, 30% [35/118] vs. noncarriers, 26% [244/934], P =. 35). Among those desiring children postdiagnosis (n = 279), concern about cancer risk heritability was more common among carriers (74% [26/35] vs. noncarriers, 36% [88/244], P <. 01). Carriers were more likely to report that concern about cancer risk heritability contributed to a lack of certainty or interest in future pregnancies (20% [16/81] vs. noncarriers, 7% [49/674], P =. 001). Similar proportions (P =. 65) of carriers (36% [43/118]) and noncarriers (38% [351/934]) were somewhat or very concerned about infertility post-treatment; utilization of fertility preservation strategies was also similar (carriers, 14% [17/118] vs. noncarriers, 12% [113/934], P =. 78). Conclusion: Carriers were similarly concerned about future fertility and as likely to pursue fertility preservation as noncarriers. Concern about cancer risk heritability was more frequent among carriers and impacted decisions not to pursue future pregnancies for some, underscoring the importance of counseling regarding strategies to prevent transmission to offspring, including preimplantation genetic testing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)317-323
Number of pages7
JournalClinical breast cancer
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2023

Keywords

  • BRCA1/BRCA2
  • Breast cancer
  • Fertility concerns
  • Pathogenic variants

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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