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Should insurance companies cover the expenses of fertility preservation when a young cancer patient is at risk of losing their fertility as a result of their treatment? This is what members of the Michigan delegation asked the American Medical Association (AMA) to support by lobbying for federal...
Cancer survivorship starts at the time of disease diagnosis and continues throughout the rest of the patient’s life. Many survivors experience physical, emotional and day-to-day challenges after cancer treatment is done making survivorship a life-long journey. As a result, the Robert H. Lurie...
by Megan Carlson, Guest Blogger for the Oncofertility Consortium
My name is Megan, and I will be your guest blogger for today.
I'm a journalism graduate student who had the great pleasure of shadowing Dr. Teresa Woodruff Tuesday as part of my health and science reporting practicum.
Did you know that this week is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)? NIAW is a movement that began in 1989 to raise awareness about the disease of infertility and encourage the public to understand their reproductive health. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association founded this movement...
There are an estimated 13 million cancer survivors living in the US today, with projected growth to 18 million by 2020. As a result, many healthcare groups and cancer centers are not equipped to address their growing survivor populations. Stemming from this need for quality after care, researchers...
Cancer during pregnancy is rare, occurring in approximately one out of every 1,000 pregnancies, with breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed. In the past, both healthcare providers and women were often unclear about how to proceed with a pregnancy after a cancer diagnosis without...
Finding out your pregnant can be one of the happiest times in your life. Couple that with a cancer diagnosis and suddenly you’re not only concerned about your health, but that of the new life you are busy growing. Cancer during pregnancy is rare, occurring in approximately one out of every 1,000...
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...
The month of November kicks off the sixth annual Movember fundraising campaign to raise vital awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. Every November, men are encouraged to grow out their moustaches for the entire month in support of...
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...
A series of workshops designed to promote the teaching of biotechnology in Chicago Public Schools kicked off with a June 19 symposium featuring pioneering Northwestern University cancer researcher Teresa K. Woodruff. The event also connected educators to the partners sponsoring...
Advances in cancer treatments give young women more hope for survival than ever before, but many treatments can leave women unable to naturally conceive a child. The University of North Carolina (UNC) Fertility Preservation Program, a member of the National Physicians Cooperative, provides options...
Fertility Preservation (FP) programs are imperative to comprehensive cancer treatment plans, but not all providers are able to offer this level of care to their patients. Often, this is not for lack of want, but rather it results from a scarcity of resources or insufficient knowledge regarding FP...
In October 2010, the Center for Reproductive Research (CRR) supported an exhibit at the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival, held on the National Mall, in Washington, DC, in which we showcased the Women’s Health Science Program, drew attention to the under-representation...
As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, certain health care providers have a unique role in communicating fertility preservation information to newly diagnosed cancer patients. For example, often a gynecologist is the primary health care provider for many young women, therefore, based on “regular...
Fifteen years ago, the U.S. House of Representatives designated the third week in April as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week in an effort to draw attention to the disparities in cancer incident and death rates, stating "While cancer affects men and women of every age, race, ethnic background...
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.