Prioritizing Steps to address oncofertility and supportive care needs with young adults identifying as men in BC
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Year 2024
- Principal investigator Jonathan Avery
- Co-lead(s) Kristin Marr, BC Children's Hospital
- Host institution Royal Roads University
- Research location Royal Roads University
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Team members
- Kristin Marr, BC Children's Hospital
- Cheryl Heykoop, Royal Roads University
- Stuart Peacock, BC Cancer
- Joan Bortnoff, University of British Columbia
- Rajesh Sthankiya, BC Cancer
- Karine Chalifour, Young Adult Cancer Canada
- Danielle McVicar, Canadian Cancer Society
- Erika Nicholson, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
- Evan Taylor, Queering Cancer
- Kevin Tsai, Patient Partner
- Don Helgeson, Man Up to Cancer
- Nathan Shen, Anew Research Collaborative
- Will Heine, Patient Partner
- Teresa Domingo, Kristian Domingo Foundation
The purpose of this project is to work together with a group of young adults with cancer who identify as men in BC to better understand their experiences seeking support for cancer related infertility and achieving other life-stage specific milestones. In a recent review of research exploring reproductive concerns in cancer survivors, Dong et al. (2023), highlights that studies focus on women cancer patients, with relatively less attention given to those who identify as men, including those who are racialized and those who identify as trans-gender men, creating a lack of support for them when confronting the risk of cancer-related infertility and other life-stage specific challenges. Guided by participatory action and patient-oriented research, we will host two workshops over 12 months, one virtual and the other in-person, with young men (ages 15-39). Our aim: understanding their views on fertility;infertility, support-seeking experiences, and co-establishing a research agenda;communication strategy to challenge cultural and gender stereotypes in oncofertility and supportive care and enhance engagement of men in research and the co-development of programming.