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Zaami S, Melcarne R, Patrone R, Gullo G, Negro F, Napoletano G, Monti M, Aceti V, Panarese A, Borcea MC, Scorziello C, Ventrone L, Mamedov SN, Meggiorini ML, Vergine M, Giacomelli L. Oncofertility and Reproductive Counseling in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051311. [PMID: 35268402 PMCID: PMC8911138 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Improving the prognosis of breast cancer patients is of utmost importance in terms of increasing survival rates. Modern medicine has therefore prioritized better quality of life for patients, even after the disease, through a better management of the potential long-term side effects induced by anticancer treatments. Fertility preservation and family planning are therefore crucial issues to be addressed in all cancer patients of reproductive age. Along those lines, a new branch of medicine with distinct multidisciplinary characteristics has developed over the years: oncofertility. Although both national and international guidelines value reproductive counseling as an essential aspect of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway, part and parcel of the informed consent process, it is not included within the protocols adopted by the operating units for the care and management of neoplastic diseases. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of the Breast Unit of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Rome, Italy, and the degree of compliance with guidelines. By knowing the strengths and weaknesses of such approaches, the standards of care offered to breast cancer patients can be improved. Materials and methods. A retrospective study based on a review of medical records was conducted between 2014 and 2021. Patients under 40 years of age diagnosed with non-metastatic malignancies were included who received chemotherapy treatment, namely neoadjuvant, adjuvant or adjuvant hormone therapy. Results. The data were extracted from the medical records of 51 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 41% of whom received reproductive counseling, and of these, 43% decided to undertake a path of fertility preservation. Factors such as the absence of children and young age reportedly favored both the interest in counseling proposals by the medical staff and the decision to undertake a path of fertility preservation. Conclusions. The study shows that there has been growing interest in the topic of oncofertility, especially in light of law 219/2017. Therefore, since 2018, multiple proposals for reproductive counseling have been set forth, but there was not an equally growing demand for fertility preservation practices, which can be explained by the invasive nature of such practices, the patients’ concern about their own state of health, and poor or inadequate information. Such impediments highlight the importance of standardized counseling and the need for a multidisciplinary medical team to support the patient in the decision-making process. The study also revealed a drop in the number of patients receiving counseling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contrary to the positive trend that was recorded prior to the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Zaami
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.N.); (G.N.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rossella Melcarne
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Renato Patrone
- ICTUS, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Gullo
- In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Francesca Negro
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.N.); (G.N.)
| | - Gabriele Napoletano
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (F.N.); (G.N.)
| | - Marco Monti
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.M.)
| | - Valerio Aceti
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Panarese
- General and Transplant Surgery Department, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologiche (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Maria Carola Borcea
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Chiara Scorziello
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Luca Ventrone
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Samira Nicole Mamedov
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Maria Letizia Meggiorini
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (M.L.M.)
| | - Massimo Vergine
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
| | - Laura Giacomelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (M.C.B.); (C.S.); (L.V.); (S.N.M.); (M.V.); (L.G.)
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