Fertility and Cancer

Fertility and Cancer

Cancers and blood disorders are being diagnosed at earlier stages and earlier ages.  This is positive as treating earlier stage cancers allows for better treatment outcomes than treating the later stage cancers generally does. However, the treatments we often prescribe – surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, additional medications – can affect a patient’s fertility.

Fertility is defined as the ability to produce young. Fertility effects from treatment can be permanent or temporary.  To protect this ability, it is important to address fertility concerns early in the cancer diagnosis so proper planning can be done.

Common diagnoses whose treatments affect fertility include:

  • Breast Cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Leukemia

The key to successful protection is communication with your healthcare provider. Each patient situation is evaluated and can often be treated with options such as freezing eggs or sperm. It takes time to arrange and complete these procedures. You and your provider team can discuss any delays in treatment and balance this with the quality of life that can be provided by future children.