Who do you ask?

[tennis101]

I am wondering what is the type of doctor one should look for to get advice on protecting reproductive organs before cancer treatments.
I've contacted a few infertility centers but they seem focused on helping become pregnant now.
Thank you.

[tennis101]

I think I understand why I did not an answer here when I posted my question above. Most cancer sufferers are to worried about fighting cancer to think about other things. That was not the case for me. The only thing I was thinking about was having a baby because I don't think it would be worth living if I didn't have a chance to have a baby. And I'd really like to have quite a few. Lucky I learned there are doctors who specialize in this. I'd mention mine but I'm not sure if that is acceptable here. He froze some of my eggs before I had radiation. I had one round and there will probably by another. I feel much better and I'm confident that they got it. (Breast cancer). Maybe this time next year I can go back and think about having my first baby.

[ireneV]

Hello tennis,

I was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer myself, and will be doing radiation. I'm wondering whether I should follow your steps and get my eggs frozen. I'm 33, I do want to have kids in the future but at this point I don't have a partner to make embryos with.

I don't know if you are still around on the forum, but if you are, I'd love to hear your experience, especially since you were thinking of using your frozen eggs around this time.

I guess I need a push in the back for me to take that step, to add an extra burden to my treatment schedule. There's no one around me who've gone through this, since the procedure's pretty new, so I'd appreciate your response.

irene

[tennis101]

Dear IreneV,

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Really makes your day, doesn't it! Sorry if the grim humor bothers you, but I've found it helped me cope with what otherwise could be too much negative energy. I'm in post-treatment now, and have my fingers crossed that I'll be in this phase for a good long while. I did have eggs frozen, and now I'm glad that I did.

No one told me anything about my options when I first diagnosed either. They told me all about the cancer treatments, but not much about what might come later. Radiation could affect your repro organs and you are very young. You have at least ten or fifteen years and anything could happen in your life. Don't give up anything! Also considering the rates these days that women recover from breast cancer, you ARE going to be around and should preserve your options, even if you don't choose to take advantage in the future. You will at least have the choice.

I froze my eggs. They are not fertilized, so it wouldn't matter that you have not partner now. You owe it to yourself to at least look into the optioins, (costs, etc.).

Please keep in touch.

My very best, I am sending you postive energy!
Tenny

[ireneV]

Hi Tenny,

Thanks so much for your reply! It really did push my back. And I'm so glad you're doing great after a year since diagnosis!

I've gone to see a specialist on this matter (I read about him in Newsweek at How Cancer Patients Can Preserve Their Fertility | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com), and have rescheduled the start of my radiation to late next week so we'll have time to freeze my ovarian tissue. The doctor (a really nice, personable guy!) explained the options for me, and as you were saying, my options were either freezeing the eggs or a part of my ovaries. Since I don't have time to use medications to let my ovaries produce more than one mature eggs before radiation, I decided to go for ovarian freezing. I'm having the procedure done on Friday.

It's still experimental, but I feel good that I'm taking initiative. Such a difference from the cancer treatment part of the story (which makes me feel like I'm on a conveyor belt--without my will)! I'm determined to be around for many years to come, and hopefully I'll meet a man with whom I can have children some day.

Argh, it's quite a bit to carry, but I'm hanging in there. Hope you're, too.

irene

[Meg]

Dear Irene,
Your words are so very inspiring! I am going to borrow some of your strength and your attitude. You are definitley taking initiative and I think I will too.
Praying for you.

[superman1976]

Time for a checkup. I used to view physicals as boring. Now what I wouldn't give to have a boring routine checkup.

[smith]

does anyone have any advice on how to arrange storage for frozen ovarian tissue?

Do most women simply stay with the center that did the procedure? is it even allowed to take your eggs somewhere else?

I'm not looking to leave, only wondering.

[canby]

Your health provider should be able to advise you, or even provide the service. Yes, you can take the eggs elsewhere but often the transportation costs are high. You need to do the math to understand what it will cost to stay vs what it will cost to transport as well as the storage costs in a new facility.