THE ROAD TO PARENTHOOD: FERTILITY PRESERVATION FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Cancer treatment can lead to infertility but with careful planning, there is so much that can be done to help patients become parents in the future.

In the initial aftermath of a cancer diagnosis, there is so much to process. Alongside a treatment plan for the disease, another question that many have to face is whether their treatments will impact their ability to have a child in the future. Once upon a time, certain cancer treatments meant this was often not possible. However, thanks to the advances of modern medicine, this no longer has to be the case.

HOW CANCER CAN AFFECT FERTILITY

With the development of technology, cancer has become increasingly treatable, providing many patients with the chance of a cancerfree future. However, cancer treatment may have a significant impact on the fertility of patients and can be a real cause of concern for those wanting to have children. Thanks to the research pursued by the medical community and the introduction of fertility preservation options, patients are now often able to have hope of building their own family one day.

EXPERT OPINION

We spoke to two fertility specialists from HealthPlus Fertility Center, Abu Dhabi, to learn more about the options that cancer patients have and how each method is best suited for different patient needs.

"Cancer treatments can significantly impact a patient's fertility in a number of ways. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgeries can potentially cause harm to reproductive organs and minimise a person's chances of having biological children," says Dr. Ripal Madnani, a Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Specialist at Health Plus Fertility Center, Abu Dhabi.