I was pleased to see my former longtime mentor, Dr. Sherman Silber, on KTVI-TV tonight discussing the latest techniques in preserving fertility for women who have or are battling cancer. The advances that have been made in procedures such as ovarian tissue freezing are simply amazing and will give many women a strong chance of having a baby where no hope existed before. This is a vital health topic in an era when the odds of surviving cancer are much better than in the past, and I’m glad to see the issue being addressed so effectively.
As important as it is to get the word out about preserving fertility for female cancer patients, it’s also important for men to know they have fertility preservation options available if they are diagnosed with cancer. At Fertility Partnership, we’ve already had a number of men facing a cancer diagnosis take steps to preserve their fertility.
In one case, a man who’d received a testicular cancer diagnosis in the morning was able to come straight to the Fertility Partnership office from his urologist and immediately give us samples to preserve. From our office, we followed him to the hospital for surgery, and we were able to perform a testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) during his cancer surgery to obtain even more samples. Fortunately, we were able to obtain enough viable sperm so that his entire reproductive needs are frozen for future use. Having a capable, local fertility center with the willingness and ability to respond quickly can make all the difference for people facing the sudden misfortune of a cancer diagnosis.
Unfortunately, preserving a woman’s fertility can be more challenging than for a man. The woman in the KTVI segment tonight had her ovary removed, sliced into pieces, frozen for 10 years, and then replaced back into her body after being sewn back together. While a tremendous breakthrough, this technique will not be useful for many of the most common cancers afflicting women of this age group. Leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer can actually sequester, or harbor, cancer cells in a women’s ovary. We would not be able in those cases to use intact ovarian tissue for fear of reintroducing the cancer into the woman. Luckily, in those situations we have other options such as the proven method of freezing individual (cancer-free) eggs, or the newer science of taking those very same ovarian pieces and performing in vitro maturation in the lab, then harvesting the cancer-free eggs directly from a dish.
Woman or man, if you are diagnosed with cancer and wish to learn more about your options to help preserve your fertility, please contact Fertility Partnership anytime. We can move quickly to ensure every available option is considered in giving you the opportunity try conceiving after you win your battle with cancer.
