A systematic review of patient oncofertility support needs in reproductive cancer patients aged 14 to 45 years of age

Objective Decline in fertility potential brought about by a cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment is one of the biggest impacts to cancer patients' long term quality of life. As such, the current manuscript aimed to systematically review the literature on oncofertility support needs for cancer patients of a reproductive age (14-45 years of age). Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted in May 2016 through the searching of electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, PSYCH Info, Web of Science and SCOPUS, alongside the screening of relevant reference lists. An initial search identified 351 potentially relevant studies. The papers were divided into two categories; papers on patient oncofertility support needs were reviewed for this systematic review and papers on clinician provision of oncofertility support were reviewed for a separate systematic review. Results A total of 30 studies were included within the final review. Support needs were categorised as information, service, clinician-patient interactions, psychological and family. A number of studies indicated that cancer patients place great important on their oncofertility care and have unmet support needs. Patients were satisfied and felt supported when additional care was taken to ensure fertility information and service needs were met. Conclusions Patients desire for clinicians to support their concerns through the provision of adequate information, access to oncofertility services, taking time to discuss oncofertility treatment and concerns, specialised psychological support and responsiveness to individual needs.