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The Birds and the Bees and the Bank: Talking with Families About Future Fertility Amidst a Cancer Diagnosis

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Oncofertility Medical Practice

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Abstract

There are many reasons why discussions about fertility preservation may be difficult after a cancer diagnosis, though it is critical that these discussions occur prior to the start of cancer treatment in order to give patients the greatest chance of successfully having children in the future. There are many educational materials available and several new online tools that can connect patients with the information they need to make a decision about their fertility; however, face-to-face communication with health-care providers is a more effective way to convey complex information regarding cancer treatment and fertility. This chapter describes recent research into the beliefs and attitudes of adolescents and young adults regarding their fertility and how clinicians can more effectively conduct discussions about fertility with cancer patients within the difficult context of a recent cancer diagnosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Oncofertility Consortium NIH/NICHD 5UL1DE019587.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Oncologic Sciences, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Gwendolyn P. Quinn Ph.D.

  2. Department of Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Caprice A. Knapp Ph.D.

  3. Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center, Miller Children’s Hospital/HARBOR-UCLA, Long Beach, CA, USA

    Devin Murphy M.S.W.

Authors
  1. Gwendolyn P. Quinn Ph.D.
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  2. Caprice A. Knapp Ph.D.
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  3. Devin Murphy M.S.W.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gwendolyn P. Quinn Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Market St 3701, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Clarisa Gracia

  2. Northwestern University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, E Superior St 303, Chicago, 60611-3015, Illinois, USA

    Teresa K Woodruff

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Quinn, G.P., Knapp, C.A., Murphy, D. (2012). The Birds and the Bees and the Bank: Talking with Families About Future Fertility Amidst a Cancer Diagnosis. In: Gracia, C., Woodruff, T. (eds) Oncofertility Medical Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9425-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9425-7_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9424-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9425-7

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