Although an increasing number of young breast cancer (BC) patients have a pregnancy desire after BC, the time necessary to obtain a pregnancy after treatment and subsequent outcomes remain unknown. We aimed to determine the time to evolutive pregnancy in a cohort of BC survivors and subsequent obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. We analyzed BC patients treated at Institut Curie from 2005–2017, aged 18–43 years old (y.o.) at diagnosis having at least one subsequent pregnancy. 133 patients were included, representing 197 pregnancies. Mean age at BC diagnosis was 32.8 y.o. and at pregnancy beginning was 36.8 y.o. 71% pregnancies were planned, 18% unplanned and 86% spontaneous. 64% pregnancies resulted in live birth (n = 131). Median time from BC diagnosis to pregnancy beginning was 48 months and was significantly associated with endocrine therapy (p < 0.001). Median time to pregnancy was 4.3 months. Median time to evolutive pregnancy 5.6 months. In multivariate analysis, menstrual cycles before pregnancy remained significantly associated with time to pregnancy and endocrine therapy with time evolutive to pregnancy. None of the BC treatments (chemotherapy/endocrine therapy/trastuzumab) was significantly associated with obstetrical nor neonatal outcomes, that seemed comparable to global population. Our findings provide reassuring data for pregnancy counseling both in terms of delay and outcome.
Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Smoking is the principal modifiable risk factor for cancers and has a negative influence on long-term survival. We conducted a retrospective study on consecutive BC survivors seen at follow-up consultations between 3 June and 30 October 2019 at Institut Curie, Paris, France. Smoking behaviors were evaluated prospectively via interviewer-administered questionnaires. The aim of this study was to describe smoking-related patient care at diagnosis and smoking cessation patterns in women with a history of BC. A total of 1234 patients were included in the study. Smoking status at diagnosis was missing from electronic health records in 32% of cases, including 13% of patients who smoke. Only 20% of the 197 patients currently smoking at diagnosis recalled having a discussion about smoking with a healthcare professional. Radiotherapists and surgeons were more likely to talk about complications than other practitioners. The main type of information provided was general advice to stop smoking (n = 110), followed by treatment complications (n = 48), while only five patients were referred to tobaccologists. Since diagnosis, 33% (n = 65) of the patients currently smoking had quit. Patients who quit had a lower alcohol consumption, but no other factor was associated with smoking cessation. The main motivation for tobacco withdrawal was the fear of BC relapse (63%). This study highlights room for improvement in the assessment of smoking behavior. Our data raise important perspectives for considering BC treatment and follow-up as a window of opportunity for smoking cessation.
Objective
To study fertility concerns and oncofertility practices at time of breast cancer (BC) diagnosis.
Design
The FEERIC study (Fertility, Pregnancy, Contraception after BC in France) is a prospective, multicenter study.
Setting
Web-based collaborative research platform Seintinelles.
Patients
517 patients with prior BC diagnosis free from relapse and aged 18 to 43 years at inclusion (from 12th March 2018 to 27th June 2019).
Intervention
Baseline online self-administered questionnaires. Main Outcome Measure Fertility preservation procedures at BC diagnosis.
Results
Median age at BC diagnosis was 33.6 years and 424 patients (82.0%) received chemotherapy. Overall, 236 (45.6%) patients were offered specialized oncofertility counseling, 124 (24.0%) underwent one or more FP procedures with material preservation (oocytes n=108, 20.9%; embryos n=31, 6.0%; both oocytes and embryos n=13, 2.5%; ovarian cryopreservation n=6, 1.2%) and 78 patients received gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (15.1%). With a median follow-up of 26.7 months after the end of treatments,133 pregnancies (25.7%) had occurred in 85 patients (16.4%), including 20 unplanned pregnancies (15.0%). Most of the pregnancies were spontaneous (n=113, 87.6%), while 16 (12.4%) required medical interventions. Patients who had an unplanned pregnancy were less likely to have received fertility counseling (p=0.02) and contraceptive counseling (p=0.08) at BC diagnosis.
Conclusion
Most of the patients were not offered proper specialized oncofertility counseling at the time of BC diagnosis. Spontaneous pregnancies after BC were very much more frequent than pregnancies resulting from the use of cryopreserved gametes. Adequate contraceptive counseling seems as important as information about fertility and might prevent unplanned pregnancies.
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