According to the American Cancer Society, there are now more than 13.7 million cancer survivors in the United States. That number is expected to grow to nearly 18 million by 2022. After decades of focusing on treating cancer, we now face the challenge of helping survivors achieve a good quality of...
There are more than 400,000 female cancer survivors below age 40 in the United States today, due primarily to the relatively large number of young women who are diagnosed with, and beat, breast cancer. Approximately 70% of breast cancers are identified as estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive),...
The oncofertility community aims to educate both oncology and reproductive specialists throughout the United States and across the globe. Over the past five years, the Oncofertility Consortium has done this through an annual conference and monthly Virtual Grand Rounds. This year, we’ve gone one...
Oncofertility is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive science. While those two fields make up the breadth of this discipline, it only touches the surface of what future clinicians need in their academic repertoire to successfully navigate this field. In “...
Talking with teenagers about fertility can be awkward and uncomfortable. Talking with teenagers and their families about a cancer diagnosis is devastating. How do we do both at the same time and ensure that the importance of fertility preservation is understood in light of the traumatic timing?...
This weekend kicks off the 68th annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in San Diego, CA and runs through October 24th. ASRM was founded in 1944 by a small group of fertility experts in Chicago and since then, distinguished members of ASRM have led the development...
Oncofertility is a multidisciplinary field requiring experts from a variety of different backgrounds including endocrinology, oncology, bioethics, urology, etc., in order to provide fertility options to cancer patients. In the oncofertility book series, each edition focuses on a specific component...
I just returned from the annual Oncofertility Consortium Conference and one of the ethical topics that came up was the possibility of disputes over frozen reproductive materials. Before undergoing life-saving cancer treatment, people may opt to freeze gametes, gonadal tissue, or embryos in order to...
More and more healthcare organizations, hospitals, and clinics are interested in learning about fertility preservation and how exactly an oncofertility program is developed. The Oncofertility Consortium holds a 1-day course entitled, Clinic 101, to teach health care providers the necessary steps...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Countries around the globe have started celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with 31 days spotlighting prevention, education, and finding a cure. While most people are aware of breast...
Yesterday we posted a blog about the 36th annual APHON (Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses) Conference being held right now in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s an exciting time for us because not only do we have a member of the Oncofertility Consortium presenting on fertility perseveration at...
The more we understand about our genes, the more we understand genetic diseases and eventually, how to best treat them. The recent efforts of a nationwide consortium of researchers suggests that the origins of the type of breast cancer a patient is diagnosed with may inform the most effective...
The 2012 Oncofertility Conference: Dialogues in Oncofertility begins next Thursday, September 27th in Chicago, IL. This 6th annual conference will include talks from experts across the globe on topics that range from factors influencing primate folliculogenesis to the psychosocial needs of young...
A recent story on the Today Show sparked my interest and practically begged for me to write about it. It involved cancer, fertility, and surrogacy so it seemed right up our alley, but there’s a caveat I should disclose before you read any further – the mother of the mother-to-be was carrying her...
As you may have heard us mention a time or two before, the 3rd book in the oncofertility series, Oncofertility Medical Practice: Clinical Issues and Implementation, was just released on Amazon.com and is available for purchase. Besides just letting our readers know that important piece of...
Here at the Oncofertility Consortium, we are busy putting the final touches on the upcoming 2012 Oncofertility Conference: Dialogues in Oncofertility. At the conference, experts will discuss which cancer treatments are likely to damage later reproductive ability for men, women, and children and ...
The Northwestern Community (university, hospital, faculty foundation, etc.) is extremely comprehensive, and offers so much in the realm of cancer care. We like to think that we're a one stop shop for anyone dealing with a cancer diagnosis - taking care of patients' physical, mental, and emotional...
Recently, one of our friends and cancer advocates, Jonny Imerman, was featured on CNN Health, in an article entitled "Pairing 'Angels' with Cancer Patients," showcasing the organization he began 10 years ago, Imerman Angels. Imerman Angels is an organization founded in 2003 that carefully matches...
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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