Dr. Jacqueline S. Jeruss, a breast surgical oncologists and one of the founding oncology members in the Oncofertility Consortium, and Dr. Teresa K. Woodruff (Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director, The Oncofertility Consortium) have co-authored a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine titled “Preservation of Fertility in Patients with Cancer”. This paper outlines the roles that oncologists play in the diagnosis of disease, the development of a treatment strategy and in the presentation of the fertility risks associated with treatment and ways to spare fertility.
Oncologists often find themselves struggling with the real and present dangers associated with a new cancer diagnosis. Finding the time and mental resources to talk about survivorship issues is a difficult but not insurmountable task. On the other side of the equation, reproductive endocrinologists are rarely equipped to address the emergency needs of cancer patients for either hormone stimulation of tissue harvest. The goal of the Oncofertility Consortium is to provide a range of navigational tools that can assist in the management of complex young cancer patients.
In a webinar scheduled for Tuesday at 2 PM Central Time, Dr. Jeruss and Dr. Woodruff will talk about the implications of this article for oncologists and patients. With moderator Marla Paul, they will discuss how the issues facing oncologists and researchers are impacting the lives of patients.
The New England Journal of Medicine article can be read here:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/9/902
The seminar is scheduled for 2 PM Central Standard Time, and will be available on https://oncofertility.msu.edu/events/webinars.