Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey

Background: Fertility and pregnancy-related issues are critical for young patients with breast cancer. No proper evidence exists on physicians' knowledge, practice, and attitudes on dealing with these concerns in the specific group of patients with advanced disease. Methods: A 26-item questionn...

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Main Authors: Simone Nardin, Luca Arecco, Virginia Delucchi, Eva Blondeaux, Mihaela Stana, Luciana de Moura Leite, Luiza Nardin Weis, Giang Pham Hoang, Arianna Daneri, Francesca Bruzzone, Arianna Meacci, Chiara Molinelli, Maria Grazia Razeti, Martina Perrone, Shani Paluch-Shimon, Ann H. Partridge, Fatima Cardoso, Tanja Spanic, Joanna Kufel-Grabowska, Matteo Lambertini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Breast
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625004965
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author Simone Nardin
Luca Arecco
Virginia Delucchi
Eva Blondeaux
Mihaela Stana
Luciana de Moura Leite
Luiza Nardin Weis
Giang Pham Hoang
Arianna Daneri
Francesca Bruzzone
Arianna Meacci
Chiara Molinelli
Maria Grazia Razeti
Martina Perrone
Shani Paluch-Shimon
Ann H. Partridge
Fatima Cardoso
Tanja Spanic
Joanna Kufel-Grabowska
Matteo Lambertini
author_facet Simone Nardin
Luca Arecco
Virginia Delucchi
Eva Blondeaux
Mihaela Stana
Luciana de Moura Leite
Luiza Nardin Weis
Giang Pham Hoang
Arianna Daneri
Francesca Bruzzone
Arianna Meacci
Chiara Molinelli
Maria Grazia Razeti
Martina Perrone
Shani Paluch-Shimon
Ann H. Partridge
Fatima Cardoso
Tanja Spanic
Joanna Kufel-Grabowska
Matteo Lambertini
author_sort Simone Nardin
collection DOAJ
description Background: Fertility and pregnancy-related issues are critical for young patients with breast cancer. No proper evidence exists on physicians' knowledge, practice, and attitudes on dealing with these concerns in the specific group of patients with advanced disease. Methods: A 26-item questionnaire was administered via e-mail in December 2023 to physicians who attended the ABC6 consensus conference (virtually, November 2021) and those who were registered for the ABC7 consensus conference (Lisbon, November 2023). The questionnaire was divided into 3 main sections: 1) demographic, medical training, and background information; 2) knowledge, practice, and attitudes of physicians towards fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer; 3) approach to hypothetical clinical cases. Results: A total of 133 physicians completed the survey. Most reported discussing always (40.6 %) or usually (36.1 %) the possible treatment-related loss of ovarian function in patients with advanced breast cancer. Regarding fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues, 23.3 % would always feel comfortable discussing these topics with patients, and 45.9 % would feel comfortable depending on the clinical situation. 20.3 % reported not prescribing any type of contraception, and 10–20 % would prescribe treatments that are contraindicated during pregnancy. Conclusions: Our survey showed that many concerns exist when discussing and dealing with fertility and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer. It is essential to increase physicians' awareness on how to address fertility and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer, especially as oncological treatments continue to improve, resulting in longer survival and, in some cases, potential cure.
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spelling doaj-art-ff6139f401a84192a27ea99b7b09d20d2025-08-20T03:13:21ZengElsevierBreast1532-30802025-08-018210447910.1016/j.breast.2025.104479Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 surveySimone Nardin0Luca Arecco1Virginia Delucchi2Eva Blondeaux3Mihaela Stana4Luciana de Moura Leite5Luiza Nardin Weis6Giang Pham Hoang7Arianna Daneri8Francesca Bruzzone9Arianna Meacci10Chiara Molinelli11Maria Grazia Razeti12Martina Perrone13Shani Paluch-Shimon14Ann H. Partridge15Fatima Cardoso16Tanja Spanic17Joanna Kufel-Grabowska18Matteo Lambertini19SCDU Oncologia, AOU Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Institut Jules Bordet, Academic Trials Promoting Team (ATPT), Bruxelles, BelgiumU. O. Epidemiologia Clinica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyU. O. Epidemiologia Clinica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Medical Oncology, Elysee Hospital, Alba Iulia, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Oncology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, BrazilDasa Oncology, Hospital Brasília, Brasília, BrazilDepartment of Oncology, Vinmec International General Hospital, Hanoi, Viet NamDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; U.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; U.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyU.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy; Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00185, Rome, ItalyU.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyU.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, ItalyUOC di Oncologia Medica del PO di Gallipoli, Lecce, ItalySharett institute of oncology, Hadassah University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, IsraelDepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USAAdvanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Global Alliance, Lisbon, PortugalEuropa Donna, European Breast Cancer Coalition, Europa Donna Slovenia, Ljubljana, SloveniaClinic of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; U.O. Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy; Corresponding author. Department of Medical Oncology, University of Genova - IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.Background: Fertility and pregnancy-related issues are critical for young patients with breast cancer. No proper evidence exists on physicians' knowledge, practice, and attitudes on dealing with these concerns in the specific group of patients with advanced disease. Methods: A 26-item questionnaire was administered via e-mail in December 2023 to physicians who attended the ABC6 consensus conference (virtually, November 2021) and those who were registered for the ABC7 consensus conference (Lisbon, November 2023). The questionnaire was divided into 3 main sections: 1) demographic, medical training, and background information; 2) knowledge, practice, and attitudes of physicians towards fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer; 3) approach to hypothetical clinical cases. Results: A total of 133 physicians completed the survey. Most reported discussing always (40.6 %) or usually (36.1 %) the possible treatment-related loss of ovarian function in patients with advanced breast cancer. Regarding fertility preservation and pregnancy-related issues, 23.3 % would always feel comfortable discussing these topics with patients, and 45.9 % would feel comfortable depending on the clinical situation. 20.3 % reported not prescribing any type of contraception, and 10–20 % would prescribe treatments that are contraindicated during pregnancy. Conclusions: Our survey showed that many concerns exist when discussing and dealing with fertility and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer. It is essential to increase physicians' awareness on how to address fertility and pregnancy-related issues in patients with advanced breast cancer, especially as oncological treatments continue to improve, resulting in longer survival and, in some cases, potential cure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625004965MBCFertilityPregnancyYoung patientsSurvey
spellingShingle Simone Nardin
Luca Arecco
Virginia Delucchi
Eva Blondeaux
Mihaela Stana
Luciana de Moura Leite
Luiza Nardin Weis
Giang Pham Hoang
Arianna Daneri
Francesca Bruzzone
Arianna Meacci
Chiara Molinelli
Maria Grazia Razeti
Martina Perrone
Shani Paluch-Shimon
Ann H. Partridge
Fatima Cardoso
Tanja Spanic
Joanna Kufel-Grabowska
Matteo Lambertini
Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
Breast
MBC
Fertility
Pregnancy
Young patients
Survey
title Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
title_full Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
title_fullStr Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
title_full_unstemmed Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
title_short Physicians’ knowledge, practice, and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy-related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer: results of the ABC6 and ABC7 survey
title_sort physicians knowledge practice and attitudes on fertility and pregnancy related issues in young women with advanced breast cancer results of the abc6 and abc7 survey
topic MBC
Fertility
Pregnancy
Young patients
Survey
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960977625004965
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