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A Young Woman Facing Cancer Treatment: Shared Decision-Making in Fertility Preservation

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Bio-Psycho-Social Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Abstract

Young patients diagnosed with cancer are at high risk for infertility or for premature ovarian failure. Technological opportunities to preserve fertility are available, and treatment possibilities are still increasing. However, decisions regarding fertility preservation have to be made before the start of the cancer treatment. Consequently, patients, their relatives, as well as their doctors face the challenge to reach shared decision-making on an issue with lifelong impact in a very short and emotionally loaded situation. Fertility preservation may interfere with cancer treatment, should be in line with future child-wish that in most cases might be still highly premature, and could greatly impact on relatives involved. Careful counseling of these patients and their close relatives by providing information, providing opportunities for referral to fertility specialists, and by paying attention to emotional as well as technical aspects, different treatment options may support patients and their relatives to make decisions in this highly emotionally loaded period.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Lobke Bastings PhD, MD & Catharina Beerendonk PhD, MD

  2. Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Christianne Verhaak PhD

Authors
  1. Lobke Bastings PhD, MD
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  2. Catharina Beerendonk PhD, MD
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  3. Christianne Verhaak PhD
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Correspondence to Christianne Verhaak PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gelre Hospitals Apeldoorn Location, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

    K Marieke Paarlberg

  2. Wenckebach Institute, University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Harry B.M. van de Wiel

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Bastings, L., Beerendonk, C., Verhaak, C. (2017). A Young Woman Facing Cancer Treatment: Shared Decision-Making in Fertility Preservation. In: Paarlberg, K., van de Wiel, H. (eds) Bio-Psycho-Social Obstetrics and Gynecology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40404-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40404-2_15

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