FEBRUARY 4 is World Cancer Day. It is meant to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection and treatment.
There is no doubt that recent improvements in prevention, detection and treatment have led to improvement in cancer survival rates, especially in developed countries. One aspect of care that is still largely ignored in this clime is the issue of fertility preservation, ithat is steps put in place to ensure that a cancer survivor would still be able to have children after going through the experience.
This aspect is however very important and could help people going through cancer treatment pull through when all appear bleak, i.e. the knowledge that they still stand a chance of conceiving after the ordeal could provide the hope needed when it all seems hopeless.
Cancer treatments can impair fertility in a number of ways. This is a fact. Some chemotherapy medications destroy eggs and may lead to infertility after treatment; however, the risk of infertility depends on the medications used, the doses given, and the age of the woman at the time of treatment. An older woman has fewer eggs when starting treatment. This means she is more likely to become infertile after treatment.
Unfortunately, women of reproductive age are regularly diagnosed with cancer. The common types of cancer in young women include breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, colorectal cancer and non- Hodgkin lymphoma. It is not unexpected that one of the concerns of women who have undergone treatment for cancer is their chances of having a baby afterwards. Such young women that have cancer often require treatment that can compromise their future fertility. For instance, chemotherapy is toxic to the ovaries and can result in loss of follicle reserve and premature ovarian failure. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments also trigger early menopause.
As a woman, there are several ways that having ovarian cancer can affect your ability to have children in the future. Cancerous tumours can damage your ovaries and your ability to produce eggs. You may also need to have one or both ovaries removed.
You would probably ask if breast cancer impacts negatively on fertility. Some treatments for breast cancer may affect fertility, particularly from chemotherapy that might damage the ovaries, which can sometimes cause immediate or delayed infertility. Still, many women are able to become pregnant after treatment.
The point is that once you are diagnosed with any form of cancer, it is a valid concern that problems arising from the cancer or cancer treatment could cause damage to your reproductive organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix. Your hormone production could also be affected. While cancer can be successfully treated if detected early, certain treatment approaches have known or possible fertility-related side effects. Chemotherapy may affect fertility; radiation therapy also affects fertility if areas like the abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, ovaries and the uterus are exposed. Surgical removal of these reproductive organs may affect fertility.
There are instances in which cancer treatments stop menstrual periods. This is called premature menopause and it could cause permanent infertility. Chemotherapy has been known to cause menstrual periods to stop temporarily.
