Life after Cancer
Life after cancer is a reality for many patients today. Thanks to better access to healthcare and advances in treatment—surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy—survival rates and quality of life have improved significantly. But as we continue to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment, it’s equally vital to focus on what comes next: the quality of life after cancer, especially when it comes to fertility and the desire to have children.
Cancer is a disease with high morbidity and mortality and a serious social impact. According to the Globocan 2012 report, cancer incidence in Spain was 215.5 new cases per 100,000 people—one-third of them in working-age adults. Among young patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, about 40% will face fertility problems post-treatment. Around 25% of women diagnosed with cancer are of reproductive age, childless, or using contraception at the time of diagnosis.
This makes fertility preservation a crucial part of cancer treatment for patients of reproductive age. Life after cancer includes the right to parenthood.
Fertility Preservation in Men
In men, the standard method is semen cryopreservation, a technique practiced since the 1970s. It involves freezing sperm samples in liquid nitrogen at –196°C, preserving them for years—until the patient decides to use them in assisted reproduction treatments. The passage of time does not damage sperm quality, ensuring the patient’s chance to become a father remains intact.
Fertility Preservation in Women
Women have two main options:
Ovarian cortex preservation
Vitrification of oocytes or embryos
Ovarian tissue preservation is quicker and doesn’t require delaying cancer treatment. It involves a laparoscopy and is not recommended for blood-related cancers. Although still experimental, results for hormonal and reproductive recovery are promising.
Vitrification, ideal for women with stable partners or those opting for egg freezing, requires ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval (10–20 days). When used later through IVF, success rates are similar to using fresh eggs.
Children and Prepubertal Patients
For young cancer patients who haven’t reached reproductive maturity, experimental techniques like ovarian or testicular tissue preservation are considered. The goal is that, as medical technology advances, it may become possible to generate gametes from these immature cells when the patient is ready for parenthood.
Medical Responsibility: Information is Power
None of these options matter if patients aren’t informed in time. Oncologists and healthcare professionals must educate patients about fertility preservation before starting any cancer treatment. Knowing that life after cancer can include a future with children has a powerful emotional impact. It encourages a more active attitude toward treatment, positively affecting both emotional and physical well-being.