While more people are beating cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer treatments, few know that cancer, and cancer treatment, can affect a person’s fertility (or their ability to have children). Often, there’s a very small window, just before starting cancer treatment, when a patient needs timely information to make informed decisions about preserving their fertility. Yet, studies show that less than half of eligible cancer patients know, or are told, about preserving fertility because neither they, nor the health professionals treating them, are aware of these options.
To bridge these gaps, Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS) has teamed up with onco-fertility experts from the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital to launch Australia’s first Fertility After Cancer campaign.
Safe and effective fertility preservation (or onco-fertility) options are now open to patients. Onco-fertility discussions are critical for people to make informed, timely decisions about their future fertility. New Australian fertility preservation guidelines call for every patient’s cancer plan to include an onco-fertility discussion, supported by age-appropriate materials. Our Fertility After Cancer videos and resources respond directly to these national guidelines. Here, newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families and friends can find targeted information in plain language about the options on hand to help preserve fertility before treatment. More information.