Qualitative study of the fertility information support experiences of young breast cancer patients

Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to deeply understand the current experience of fertility information support for young breast cancer patients and to provide further evidence supporting the development of a fertility information support project. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 18 young breast cancer patients were selected for in-depth interviews from June to September 2022. Colaizzi's seven step analysis method and NVivo software were used to analyze and organize the interview data. Results: Three themes and 10 subthemes were summarized from the interview data: Information anxiety (strong information demand, insufficient information support, information explosion, and information security); reproductive concerns (desire for fertility, anxiety about their children's health, denial of one's health, multiple burdens of emotional interweaving); and family support (the importance of good family relations, the need for a positive marital relationship). Conclusions: Medical staff should realize the importance of information support for young breast cancer patients and correctly identify the obstacles to insufficient information support. By establishing a fertility information support program, patients' awareness and the quality of fertility information support can be improved to reduce fertility anxiety in breast cancer patients.