NCCN News

On May 6, 2024, NCCN hosted an oncology policy summit focused on how sexual and reproductive health can impact people with cancer before, during, and after treatment.Speakers covered a wide range of topics within the context of gender and sex, intimacy, fertility and reproductive health, treatment side effects, and the impact of a changing policy landscape in the wake of new laws and judicial decisions.The summit began with an introduction from NCCN's Chief Executive Officer, Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, who previously served for many years as Chair of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) Panel for Survivorship.These evidence-based expert-consensus recommendations feature best practices for addressing sexual health, fertility, hormone-related symptoms, and many other late and long-term effects from cancer.The clinician-facing NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship, as well as a patient-and caregiver-friendly format, are all available for free at NCCN.org or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines App.Dr. Denlinger remarked, "We can't overlook the importance of quality of life for people being treated for cancer and those in remission.High-quality cancer care means addressing any barriers preventing patients from living their best possible life.When it comes to sexual and reproductive health, lack of discussion can be a significant limitation.That is why we have brought together a diverse group of experts to take part in these delicate but important conversations.""Research strongly suggests that oncologists and other cancer clinicians receive little training on how to discuss sexual health and related concerns with their patients, to the detriment of their patients' care and health outcomes," added Jennifer Barsky Reese, PhD, FSBM, Associate Professor, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center."It is so important that education about sexual and reproductive health be included into the training of cancer clinicians if these critical health issues are to be addressed in patients' comprehensive cancer care.""No one should feel like they have to suffer just because they've been diagnosed with cancer," agreed panelist Mindy Goldman, MD, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and member of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Survivorship."Early menopause is a seldom-discussed but frequent side effect from cancer treatment.We have options to address the symptoms, but patients are often afraid to bring them up or don't know who to talk to about them, and clinicians may also consider it to be a taboo topic.Patients seeking answers will often find themselves confused or relying on unvetted online material.We hope that by including recommendations on treatment for sexual function issues in the NCCN Guidelines, we can help people have the information they need to facilitate these necessary conversations with their care providers."