Family Building Support for Cancer Survivors

This trial aims to assist female adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in making informed family-building decisions post-treatment. It provides a nurse-led program with personalized reproductive health education and coping strategies to address fertility and emotional challenges after cancer therapy. Participants will engage in four online sessions, either exploring the new program, called Nurse Navigator-Delivered Family Building Decision Support, or receiving standard educational materials. Women who have completed cancer treatment, face fertility risks, and have not yet started a family might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to explore innovative support programs that could significantly impact their family-building journey.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on decision-making support for family building after cancer treatment.

Research has shown that programs with nurse navigators, like the one in this trial, lead to positive results for cancer patients. Studies have found that these programs can increase patient satisfaction and enhance the overall experience with cancer care. Additionally, standardized nurse navigator programs are associated with better health outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays and improved decision-making.

Researchers are excited about the Nurse Navigator-Delivered Family Building Decision Support because it offers a unique, personalized approach to helping cancer survivors make informed family-building decisions. Unlike standard educational materials, this method involves personalized reproductive health education tailored to individual cancer types and treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. It also integrates coping skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help patients align decisions with their personal values, which can reduce decision-making stress. Additionally, it encourages patient activation strategies to engage survivors actively in their reproductive care, offering a more hands-on and supportive experience than traditional resources.

Research has shown that nurse navigator programs can greatly assist cancer survivors in making family-building decisions. In this trial, participants in the Nurse Navigator-Delivered Family Building Decision Support arm will receive personalized education and support for reproductive health. One study found that such programs increased referrals for fertility preservation by eight times. Nurse navigators help patients understand their fertility options and guide them to available resources. They also enhance patient involvement by offering personalized education and support for reproductive health. Studies have demonstrated that nurse navigators lead to better outcomes, such as more frequent attendance at follow-up visits. This suggests that these programs could effectively address fertility and family-building concerns after cancer treatment.⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰