Fertility-related Experiences after Breast Cancer Diagnosis

DLH health researcher M. Elizabeth Hodgson is among the authors of an article in Cancer that assessed the prevalence of fertility counseling provided to 432 women diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45 and determined that 67 percent had not discussed the effects of treatment on fertility with a health care provider before or during treatment. At diagnosis, approximately 20 percent were interested in future fertility; however, only eight women reported using fertility preservation strategies. These findings are based on data from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Sister Study and Two Sister Study. Other authors of the article include researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and NIEHS.