Disability and Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients

Every year, 7,600 Canadian adolescents and young adults (AYA) are diagnosed with cancer. Given advances in treatment, achieving a cure is no longer the only goal of cancer treatment, and there is now an emphasis on addressing the long-term impacts of cancer and its treatment. Clinical guidelines recognize fertility preservation counselling as a critical part of this care. Using linked data from Ontario health records and cancer registries, we are investigating the likelihood of fertility preservation consultations within 30 days of cancer diagnosis between AYA with and without disabilities as well as sociodemographic, health, and cancer characteristics associated with fertility preservation consultations in each group. Our findings will have important implications for improving reproductive health equity in cancer care for AYA with disabilities.