Background Young adult female cancer survivors have unmet reproductive concerns and informational needs that are associated with poorer quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between current reproductive concerns and moderate to severe depression among young survivors. Methods This cross-sectional study includes 200 female cancer survivors between the ages of 18 and 35 years who completed a web-based survey measuring reproductive history, parenthood desires, reproductive concerns after cancer, and quality of life indicators. Results The mean age of participants was 28 years (SD = 4.4) and almost two-thirds were diagnosed within 5 years of completing the survey. Multivariable logistic regression analysis controlling for education, duration of survivorship, and social support revealed an association between experiencing reproductive concerns and moderate to severe depression (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.06–1.60 for each 5 unit increase in RCAC score). Of those with moderate to severe depression, 23% had high RCAC scores as compared to 6% of those with minimal to mild depression (p < 0.001). Conclusion A higher level of reproductive concerns was associated with greater odds of experiencing moderate to severe depression. Almost a quarter of survivors in this sample reported moderate to severe depression, and addressing reproductive concerns represents one potential area of intervention to improve the psychosocial health of young survivors.

Purpose Concerns about fertility and parenthood are important to many young adult (YA) female cancer survivors and are associated with poorer quality of life. We aimed to develop a new scale to comprehensively measure these concerns so that they can be better addressed. Methods Scale development involved: 1) seven focus groups to identify reproductive concerns among YA female cancer survivors and develop potential scale items followed by pilot testing and cognitive interviews to refine items, 2) administering surveys to 204 YA female survivors and conducting principal components analysis (PCA) with oblique rotation to identify underlying factors in the multidimensional scale, and 3) identification of preliminary construct validity evidence. Results We subjected 37 potential scale items to PCA, which indicated a six-factor solution. After removing low-loading and cross-loading items, we selected the three top loading items representing each factor. The 18-item Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC) scale (α = 0.82) assesses concerns about fertility potential, partner disclosure, child’s health, personal health, acceptance, and becoming pregnant. As hypothesized, women who wanted to have a baby (p < 0.001) and those for whom having a biological child was very important (p < 0.05) had higher mean scores, indicating higher concerns. Conclusions The scale demonstrated good internal consistency and evidence of construct validity and holds promise for future clinical and research applications. Implications for Cancer Survivors An effective tool to identify concerns related to fertility and parenthood is essential for meeting the long-term reproductive health needs of young women who have survived cancer.

Purpose: Cancer survivors in their adolescent and young adult (AYA) years are an understudied population, possibly in part because of the high effort required to recruit them into research studies. The aim of this paper is to describe the specific recruitment strategies used in four studies recruiting AYA-aged female cancer survivors and to identify the highest yielding approaches. We also discuss challenges and recommendations. Methods: We recruited AYA-aged female cancer survivors for two studies conducted locally and two conducted nationally. Recruitment strategies included outreach and referral via: healthcare providers and clinics; social media and the internet; community and word of mouth; and a national fertility information hotline. We calculated the yield of each recruitment approach for the local and national studies by comparing the number that participated to the number of potential participants. Results: We recruited a total of 534 participants into four research studies. Seventy-one percent were diagnosed as young adults and 61% were within 3 years of their cancer diagnosis. The highest-yielding local recruitment strategy was healthcare provider and clinic referral. Nationally, social media and internet outreach yielded the highest rate of participation. Overall, internet-based recruitment resulted in the highest number and yield of participants. Conclusion: Our results suggest that outreach through social media and the internet are effective approaches to recruiting AYA-aged female cancer survivors. Forging collaborative relationships with survivor advocacy groups' members and healthcare providers also proved beneficial.

Purpose-Concerns about fertility and parenthood are important to many young adult (YA) female cancer survivors and are associated with poorer quality of life. We aimed to develop a new scale to comprehensively measure these concerns so that they can be better addressed.Methods-Scale development involved: 1) seven focus groups to identify reproductive concerns among YA female cancer survivors and develop potential scale items followed by pilot testing and cognitive interviews to refine items, 2) administering surveys to 204 YA female survivors and conducting principal components analysis (PCA) with oblique rotation to identify underlying factors in the multidimensional scale, and 3) identification of preliminary construct validity evidence.Results-We subjected 37 potential scale items to PCA, which indicated a six-factor solution. After removing low-loading and cross-loading items, we selected the three top loading items representing each factor. The 18-item Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC) scale (α = 0.82) assesses concerns about fertility potential, partner disclosure, child's health, personal health, acceptance, and becoming pregnant. As hypothesized, women who wanted to have a baby (p < 0.001) and those for whom having a biological child was very important (p < 0.05) had higher mean scores, indicating higher concerns.Conclusions-The scale demonstrated good internal consistency and evidence of construct validity and holds promise for future clinical and research applications.Implications for Cancer Survivors-An effective tool to identify concerns related to fertility and parenthood is essential for meeting the long-term reproductive health needs of young women who have survived cancer.

Objective To compare rates of contraception between reproductive-aged cancer survivors and women in the general U.S. population. Among survivors, the study examined factors associated with use of contraception and emergency contraception. Methods This study analyzed enrollment data from an ongoing national prospective cohort study on reproductive health after cancer entitled the Fertility Information Research Study. We compared current contraceptive use in survivors with that of the general population ascertained by the 2006–2010 National Survey for Family Growth. Log-binomial regression models estimated relative risks for characteristics associated with use of contraception, World Health Organization tiers I–II (sterilization and hormonal) contraceptive methods, and emergency contraception in survivors. Results Data from 295 survivors (mean age 31.6 ± 5.7 years, range 20–44 years) enrolled in this prospective study (85% response rate) were examined. Age-adjusted rates of using tiers I–II contraceptive methods were lower in survivors than the general population (34% [28.8–40.0] compared with 53% [51.5–54.5], P<.01). Only 56% of survivors reported receiving family planning services (counseling, prescription or procedure related to birth control) since cancer diagnosis. In adjusted analysis, receipt of family planning services was associated with both increased use of tiers I–II contraceptive methods (relative risk 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.5) and accessing emergency contraception (relative risk 5.0, 95% CI 1.6–16.3) in survivors. Conclusion Lower rates of using Tiers I–II contraceptive methods were found in reproductive-aged cancer survivors compared to the general population of U.S. women. Exposure to family planning services across the cancer care continuum may improve contraception utilization among these women. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01843140.