Breast Cancer Health Center

Fertility an Issue for Breast Cancer Patients

11,000 Cases a Year continued...

Partridge says physicians and patients are often so focused on the cancer itself that quality-of-life issues such as future fertility may fall off the radar screen.

"Even if this is not of great concern to a woman when she is dealing with issues of survival it may certainly be a concern down the road when treatment is over," Partridge says.

She adds that the research highlights the need for more studies assessing the impact of current treatments on fertility. In addition to the treatment regimen a woman chooses, her age at diagnosis is a factor in her infertility risk.

Rosenberg, who is president of the Young Survival Coalition, says future fertility is one of the key concerns of patients seeking help from the advocacy group.

"We do see women diagnosed at later stages who are thrust into menopause in their 20s and early 30s,"she says. "But this research makes it clear that many women also overestimate their risk and it illustrates the importance of discussing this issue when deciding on a treatment."