The Oncofertility Consortium was established in 2007,the same year Stupid Cancer was created (formerly know as I’m Too Young For This!), the nations largest support community for the young adult cancer movement. Since then, we have been proud supporters of this group which gives a powerful voice…
By Cathryn Smeyers When female childhood cancer survivors grow up, are they more likely to experience an earlier onset of menopause? If so, what are the risk factors associated with early menopause? These were the questions asked by researchers at the French public hospital organization…
This Thursday, the Oncofertility Consortium is happy to host a Virtual Grand Rounds with two clinician-researchers from the Chicago area, Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, MD, and Mary Ellen Pavone, MD. Drs. Hirshfeld-Cytron and Pavone are both Assistant Professors in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the…
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…
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 of oncofertility, with the 3rd…
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 involved in developing their own…
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 cancer patients. The…
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…
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 new fertility…
Over the last twenty years, advances in fertility preservation techniques have made oncofertility more accessible to women diagnosed with cancer or other fertility impacting diseases. Despite this good news, the academic journal, Cancer, recently reported that between 1993 and 2007, only 4% of women between…
A new website has just been launched to provide assistance to young patients wishing to learn about their reproductive options in the midst of a cancer diagnosis. As many of you know, the Oncofertility Consortium has a patient navigator for Fertility Preservation, Kristin Smith, who…
In many women with recurrent breast cancer, the estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of their tumors changes between treatment for the primary tumor and relapse, a large retrospective study has found. The findings, published June 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,
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 for…
At the Oncofertility Consortium, we like to introduce our readers to advocacy groups who are doing great things to make a difference in the lives of individuals facing or who have faced, a cancer diagnosis. One of those organizations we would like to shine a…
Parked outside our office building at the lunch hour, are several food trucks vying for the perfect spot to sell their goodies. Mostly they try and park as close to the doors as possible, hoping to attract as many lunch-goers as they can (the science…
Infertility has been associated with psychological distress and can have a negative impact on quality of life in cancer survivors. Reproductive concerns are often sited among young cancer survivors prior to, and following cancer treatment. A number of fertility preservation (FP) options are available to…
By Nadia Johnson 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…
This week is the 10th Annual National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week, beginning April 2nd and ending on April 8th. In April 2003, National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week was launched, and organizations and clinical institutions throughout North America began partnering to raise awareness about…
This is the second of a series of blogs that Medill journalism students are writing about their perspectives on oncofertility. Read the first blog by Zara Husaini. _____________________ By Christi Sodano- A pioneer in the world of fertility preservation for young cancer patients, Dr. Teresa…
Fertility sparing procedures which were once infrequent and under utilized, are now more commonly performed in young men and women facing a cancer diagnosis. A recent article in the February issue of the American College of Surgeons Bulletin, entitled Gynecologic Oncology Surgeons Spare Patients’ Fertility,…
This March, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about its first case on oncofertility. The case involves the Capato couple, a husband and wife from Florida who dealt with Mr. Capato’s diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Prior to beginning cancer treatment, the Capato’s…
For many women, temporary hair loss during chemotherapy is a very emotional and difficult experience. Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells—healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Hair follicles contain some of the fastest-growing cells in the body, and as the…
Meredith Wise is a senior at Northwestern University majoring in Pre-med and English. Her interests in women’s health and fertility started in high school when she shadowed an infertility specialist. She never thought that fertility would ever become an issue for her young friends but…
The Oncofertility Consortium and the Hormone Foundation developed fact sheets for men, women, and children to learn about the impact of cancer on their fertility, hormonal management, and fertility options. These fact sheets are available at SaveMyFertility.org, a website which provides patients and providers with…
