FERTILITY PRESERVATION IN YOUNG ONCOLOGY PATIENTS.

We at CRBCM appreciate the article in a recent JNCNN publication :" Optimizing fertility preservation practices for adolescent and young adult cancer patients" by Rebecca Johnson and Leah Kroon.
The article suggest that there 70, 000 young people with cancer (age 15-39) who undergo chemotherapy with significant risk of loss of fertility.   And offering them fertility preservation is crucial and obligated step in their management.  With the advancement in cancer treatment, over 70 to 80% survive after cancer and have to live with long term psychological distress from infertility.
54% of Oncologists reportedly do not discuss this risk.
80% of Male patients and 48% of female patients recall having discussed the issue with their Oncologist
which is a shame!
Barriers to the issue:
1. Availability of the service
2. Integration of the practice of referring the patient into the routine of the Oncology office
3. knowing that sperm collection can occur while patient is still inpatient
4. Fear of delay to therapy, particularly in female where Ovarian stimulation requires 2 weeks delay/lag of time

We look at this as an integral part of a Survivorship Center.