We want to have children in the future. Is this possible after cancer?

56. We want to have children in the future. Is
this possible after cancer?

If you and your partner are thinking about having
children after his or her treatment for cancer, talk
with the oncology physician as soon as possible.

If you and your partner are thinking about having children
after his or her treatment for cancer, talk with the
oncology physician as soon as possible. Sometimes
radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and certain surgeries
can cause infertility for both men and women. To be
successful, it is often crucial that steps are taken before
cancer treatment for most kinds of alternative fertility
options for cancer patients, such as sperm-banking or
harvesting eggs. New options are also available, particularly
for women, such as preservation of ovarian tissue
removed before treatment which can later be
implanted into the body after cancer therapy is finished.

Eggs are then harvested and fertilized, with the
hope of creating embryos. State-of-the-art research is
being conducted assessing methods of preserving fertility
among cancer survivors at the Center for Reproductive
Medicine and Infertility in New York City.

In addition to exploring the medical and technology
options, also be sure to investigate insurance coverage
and the costs associated with such fertility treatments.

There are now organizations advocating for better
insurance coverage and possible financial assistance to
young adult cancer patients for fertility treatments,
such as Fertile Hope.