Dr. Blackwell on the Treatment of Young Women With Breast Cancer

Kimberly L. Blackwell, MD, medical oncologist, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses the treatment of young women with breast cancer.

Young women with breast cancer is a unique subset of patients, explains Blackwell. They frequently have many life issues that they are facing, particularly those with hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer. That group of patients is a challenge, says Blackwell, because of the complex layer of care that needs to be considered.

For example, fertility issues are a challenge that many of these women face, explains Blackwell. Most women will have to wait 5 to 10 years before the patients can think of safely conceiving because they would have to stop their anti-endocrine breast cancer treatment. Blackwell says that it is important to incorporate the use of reproductive endocrinologists on a regular basis for the treatment of young women.