An Unwanted Side Effect Of Cancer Treatment

Every year, there are over 2 million new cancer cases diagnosed, which can be devastating. Cancer can feel like an uphill battle, but there is a range of treatment options based on early detection and cancer severity. Common cancer treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. While effective, these treatments often come with moderate to severe side effects. A common concern is the potential damage to the reproductive organs, leading to infertility. For cancer patients hoping for a future filled with the joys of childbirth, fertility preservation is essential. Exploring options like cryopreservation can bring renewed hope for those who become cancer-free.

How treatment affects fertility

Cancer treatment directly affects reproductive health depending on the type of treatment and required dosage. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can severely damage the ovaries or testes, leading to infertility or sterility. Chemotherapy can also accelerate the ovarian reserve, which is the remaining follicles in the ovaries. Older women on chemotherapy can have trouble conceiving in the future. Radiation therapy sends high doses of radiation near a particular area to kill cancer cells. Direct damage to the ovaries, uterus, or testes can happen when radiation therapy occurs in the pelvic area. Some cancer patients require surgery, which can lead to damage or the removal of parts of the reproductive organs. The medical team will explain these inevitable risks but proceed with life-saving treatment.

The fertility preservation process

Cancer patients who hope to have future children have the option of fertility preservation. Before cancer treatment, the patient will work with a fertility specialist or in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic to discuss preservation options. The fertility team will recommend cryopreservation, which is the process of freezing healthy, undamaged reproductive material for future use. The fertility team uses liquid nitrogen and vitrification to safely preserve these cells indefinitely. At the appropriate time, the fertility team can use assisted reproductive technology (ART) to increase the chances of pregnancy.

Your cryopreservation options

Individual cancer patients can preserve eggs or sperm for future use. The patient will discuss cryopreservation needs with a fertility specialist or donor bank. Men will provide a semen sample that the fertility team will wash, test, and store. Egg donation is more complex, requiring hormone medication to produce multiple follicles. The patient takes the required drugs over 10-14 days. At the appropriate time, the fertility team will harvest as many mature follicles as possible. These are tested and stored using cryopreservation. Couples have the option of creating and storing embryos. The fertility clinic enlists an embryologist who combines sperm and egg in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are tested, and the most viable options are cryopreserved for future use.

Proceeding with ART

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can take weeks or months, depending on the severity of the condition. Some patients may need additional surgery, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy, which can also affect fertility. After treatment and a full recovery, former cancer patients may consider starting or growing a family. The preserved eggs, sperm, or embryos can be used for IVF. This process transfers viable embryos into the potential parent's uterine lining for pregnancy. Embryos can be created using preserved eggs or sperm. If cancer treatment has compromised the uterus, couples can consider gestational surrogacy, where a woman carries the child for the potential parents. The fertility team will discuss all possible options that will provide the highest success rates.

Don't be cancer-free and child-free

Cancer treatment should not come at the expense of fertility. In some cases, like treating cervical, ovarian, or prostate cancer, damage to the reproductive organs is possible. If fertility is not considered first, the hope of having biological children disappears. Fertility preservation gives cancer patients peace of mind before proceeding with treatment. Using frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos may have a higher success rate compared to attempting to conceive naturally after therapy. Fertility preservation allows cancer patients to possibly achieve parenthood, which is an important life milestone for many.