Information for Teenage Girls Receiving Chemotherapy – Why am I being asked to do a pregnancy test?

Information for Teenage Girls Receiving Chemotherapy – Why am I being asked to do a pregnancy test?

Why do we need to know?
If you are pregnant when you have chemotherapy, it may harm your unborn baby.
This is especially true at the beginning of a pregnancy, when you might not even realise that you are pregnant. We ask all girls aged 12+ to do a pregnancy test at the start of each chemo cycle.

What does it involve?
We will ask you for a urine (wee) sample on the first day of each cycle of chemotherapy. You will do the urine sample in private, and the result will be available the same day

Do I get a choice?
You may be asked to agree to the pregnancy test yourself, or your parent/the person with parental responsibility may be asked to consent on your behalf. This will depend on your age.

Confidentiality
Confidentiality means that we will not share information about you without your agreement. The only exception to this is if we think that the health, safety or welfare of you or someone else is at risk.

Can I refuse to be tested?
If we feel that you can consent to the test, then you can refuse. The team will want to discuss this with you. If we feel that your parent/the person with parental responsibility should consent for the test on your behalf, and they choose that it is not right for you, the risks will be discussed with you both and a note will be put in your medical records.

Who gets told the results?
The result will be recorded in your medical notes and your clinical team will be told the result of the pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, they will decide if your chemotherapy can still go ahead or whether it needs to be delayed. If we need to tell your parents/carers about the result, we will talk to you first.

If you are pregnant and would like help telling your parents, this can be arranged. Your age and circumstances will determine who will need to be told that you are pregnant. We will always talk to you and involve you in any decisions.

Ask a nurse or doctor to explain anything you are not clear about, they will be happy to help.

You can ask to talk to them in private if you wish. Information for teenage and young adult patients about sex and relationships during and after treatment is available on the TYAC website: www.tyac.org.uk

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything, please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to answer your questions and reassure you. 

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf, if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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