A recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology used research from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) to facilitate research on long-term survivors of cancer diagnosed in childhood and adolescence. Specifically, the authors retrospectively looked at the fertility of male survivors of childhood cancer and the results are astonishing.
With a relatively large sample size (n=6,224) for cancer survivors and comparing it to the survivor’s male siblings (n=1,292), the authors were able to gain an insight into the long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatments. Compared with the siblings, survivors were approximately half as likely to sire a pregnancy. In the treatment models, prior radiation therapy to the testes (>7.5 Gy), high doses of alkylating chemotherapy agents, treatment with procarbazine, or high doses of cyclophosphamide were the major factors that decreased the chances of a cancer survivor successfully siring a pregnancy.
This study simply demonstrates that the fertility of male childhood cancer survivors is impaired. We can intervene with quick sperm banking for most of these patients to prevent the heartache that can go along with infertility later in life. For those patients who aren’t able to bank sperm, testicular tissue cryopreservation always remains an open option.
The Oncofertility Consortium is going to be participating in two amazing, outdoor charity fundraisers and we'd love for you to come too!
The Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute is the official charity of the Magellan Development Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10K this year on May 16th! You can...
On April 13, 2010, Dave Look received the Northwestern University Information Technology (NUIT) Customer Champion Award based on his work with the Oncofertility Consortium and Dr. Teresa K. Woodruff. Dave's work is pivotal to the Oncofertility Consortium's success, as he helps to develop and...
Women are still underrepresented in senior academic positions in science
A recent editorial in Nature Neuroscience explores gender disparities in senior academic positions in science, noting the difficulties women face when climbing the academic ladder. Despite a growing number of women in the...
The contents of the Oncofertility Consortium Blog are for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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