By Tricity News
Chandigarh
23 April:- Whenever cancer is diagnosed in young persons, it is like a
death sentence for the whole family. The immediate concern is the treatment of
cancer and survival. Nobody thinks of 70-80 percent chances of losing fertility
because of cancer or cancer treatments. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy
all affect egg and sperm production in one or other way. Usual response to a
question related to fertility preservation is postponement till treatment is
over. Nobody thinks of “life after cancer”.
A seminar was organized
today by the Indian Fertility Society of Greater Chandigarh Chapter to create
awareness about the Reproductive Health in Cancer Survivors. Speaking on the
occasion Dr. Umesh Nandani Jindal, Local Organizing Chairperson & Director
Jindal IVF Chandigarh said that in India more than 40,000 cancers
are diagnosed in men and women less than 45 years of age and even childhood
cancer is increasing. Fortunately, with advancement in therapies the cure rates
in most common cancers like breast cancer, testicular cancer and lymphoma are
more then 80-90 percent. So, with increasing trends of cancer in young age and
better cure rates, we have number of young cancer survivors with lost
fertility. So, the question of “reproductive life after cancer” becomes more
relevant”.
The seminar organized
today was attended by more than 80 leading Medical Practitioners, fertility
specialists and scientists from across North India and various solutions to the
reproductive health in cancer patients and a number of latest techniques that
can preserve fertility before cancer treatments were discussed.
Women can get their eggs
or embryos freezed before chemotherapy or surgery. This technique requires only
10 to 12 days of daily injections and thus, doesn’t delay the treatment. These
frozen eggs or embryos can be used after cancer treatment and patients can have
their own genetic child.
For men, the technique is
even simpler. The ejaculated semen can be easily and effectively preserved
before treatment. This semen can be used later and provides the patients
opportunity to have their own genetic child even after cancer treatment.
Dr. Umesh Nandani Jindal, informed that in
our clinic every month we receive 8-10 cancer survivors who are willing to
conceive. But unfortunately they have already lost their fertility because of
chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. So, it is necessary to freeze
eggs, embryos and sperms before cancer treatment. She said that one should
fight with cancer and not lose their hopes for longevity. With advanced
fertility preservation techniques and timely decision, even cancer survivors
can lead a happy and healthy married life.