Young cancer patients ‘not being told of fertility risks’

YOUNG cancer patients may be robbed of their chance to have children due to poor communication of fertility information, a charity has warned.

Young people often experience difficulties accessing fertility services or receiving information about the impact their treatment may have on their bodies, the Teenage Cancer Trust said.

Around 15% of young people with cancer have a high risk of future fertility problems due to the impact of treatment, the charity said.

However, its survey of 242 16 to 24-year-olds found that almost three in 10 (29%) young patients were not told about this, or what options were available for fertility preservation.

And 44% of those who did have a conversation about fertility with a health professional were not satisfied with the information they were given.

The charity also raised concerns over delays in diagnosis and access to mental health support in their response to the Government’s ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ consultation.

Louise Soanes, director of services at the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We found that over a quarter (29%) of young people who were treated for cancer did not have a conversation about fertility with a health professional, while 44% of young people were not satisfied with the information they were given.

“This is not acceptable and that’s why we’re calling for every young person with cancer to have their fertility options explained to them by a health professional.”