Cancer Patients 

As survivors know, a cancer diagnosis affects your life in many ways – yet a wealth of recent technical and medical advances leave plenty of reason for hope, even confidence. And when it comes to reproductive issues, a clear understanding of side effects and potential long-term challenges greatly improves your ability to ward off future obstacles to parenthood.
 
Being treated for cancer can affect a person’s reproductive system through either damage to or removal of key reproductive organs. For example, in women it’s sometimes necessary to remove the uterus and ovaries during treatment for uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancer. And sadly, it’s also relatively common for the uterus to be damaged by exposure to radiation.
 
On the other hand, in some cases of cervical cancer, the uterus can be preserved. And in many instances, the ovaries can be moved away from the radiation field by using minimal access surgery. If a woman is affected by radiation injury to the uterus, however, it can lead to miscarriage or preterm labor. Therefore, some cancer survivors who want to have a child may choose to utilize the services of a gestational carrier, or surrogate. Exposure to radiation or chemotherapy can create different obstacles for different people. Specific reactions are determined by the specific type of drug used, the dose, and the person’s age.
 
Fortunately, recent advances in reproductive medicine are allowing men and women to better address the reproductive challenges they face. One example of this is the freezing of embryos (fertilized eggs), or even unfertilized eggs, for later, post-treatment use. Frozen embryos and eggs have the potential to be implanted in a woman’s own uterus, or in a gestational carrier. Also, select women are candidates for the retrieval of immature eggs – usually after about three days of ovarian stimulation – which are then allowed to mature in the lab.
 
With ovarian stimulation, however, careful attention must be paid to the naturally resultant increase in estrogen, since estrogen can cause unwanted responses in some types of cancer, particularly breast cancer. Therefore, doctors will utilize particular medications during stimulation to inhibit estrogen increases, thus, significantly curtailing the likelihood of negative consequences.
 
Another fertility option – particularly in the treatment of childhood cancer, or when insufficient time is available for other methods – is the freezing of one ovary. This experimental procedure can be accomplished in just a few hours with minimally invasive surgery. To date, it has resulted in five live births worldwide.
 
For men, the preservation of future fertility can easily be achieved through sperm banking. This option simply requires one or more sperm samples to be frozen for future use. In addition, the freezing of testicular tissue is an option that is available for some men.
 
Another relatively well-publicized side effect of cancer treatment that survivors face is interruption of sexual function. Such difficulties can have physical and psychological components. A host of effective products and medicines are available to address physical issues, while reproductive psychologists are expert at addressing psychological troubles.
 
Beyond fertility preservation, genetic susceptibility to cancer is drawing increased attention from the medical community, and advancements in this sector are progressing rapidly. In fact, it’s now possible to prevent the transmission of certain mutations to offspring by testing eggs or embryos prior to transferring them to the uterus.
 
Each of the above-mentioned interventions – most of which have a record of success with varying types of cancer in both men and women of varying ages – is significantly more productive when applied prior to cancer treatment. So be sure to discuss all of your options with your doctor as early as possible.
 
The single most important thing to remember during and after treatment is to ask questions. As a survivor, you should seek out and team up with healthcare providers who have the expertise to effectively address your particular challenges and manage any long-term issues. Though cancer treatment can pose significant risks to fertility, there are more options now than ever before for cancer survivors who want to become parents.
 
RMANJ will work in conjunction with your oncology/surgery team to ensure that your options to preserve your future fertility are discussed with you PRIOR to your oncology treatment, in consideration of your post-treatment reproductive future. Our goal is to provide patients and our surrounding community of oncologists and surgeons the best information on the latest advances in the field of Fertility Preservation.
 
The difficult period when you are newly diagnosed is the best time to learn about your options.
Option offered for females include:
• Egg Freezing
• Embryo freezing
• Ovarian tissue freezing
 
Fertility Preservation Forms
Please complete this form (note this is in place of the Medical Intake Form) only if you are going to RMANJ for Fertility Preservation: