Half of younger cancer patients are not told about fertility preservation

Despite rising cancer rates among younger people in the United States, many say they were not informed about how treatment could affect their fertility and what options they had to preserve it.

In a research letter published in JAMA Network Open, only half of cancer patients of reproductive age at the time of diagnosis reported that a health-care provider involved in their cancer care spoke with them about their fertility preservation options before beginning treatment. Some cancer treatments, including certain types of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries, can affect fertility.