Taking care of cancer caregivers 

If your family member or loved one has received a cancer diagnosis, you may take on the role as supporter-in-chief before, during and after treatment. In some cases, an initial diagnosis can be so overwhelming for a patient, that spouses, family members or friends take the lead in asking questions about treatment plans and serve as advocates for protecting future fertility. 

You’re not alone at this difficult time. If you are a cancer caregiver with questions, Texas Fertility Center (TFC) is well-equipped to support you. An Austin fertility specialist can compassionately and expertly navigate fertility options for male and female cancer patients. 

Why an early start matters 

Time is your most precious resource, as cancer treatment often cannot wait. At TFC, your loved one’s care takes top priority. Upon receiving your initial call, TFC will fast-track you and your loved one within two business days to meet with a specialist in the field of oncofertility – a field of medicine where a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist will partner with your oncology team to support your future family-building goals. This includes parents who might have specialized concerns about their child’s future fertility. 

While cancer itself doesn’t necessarily have a negative impact on future fertility, the treatment options can. While we celebrate the advance of life-saving cancer treatments, we also recognize their impact on future fertility. Some examples include: 

• Chemotherapy can impact sperm in men, and ovarian reserve in women. Additional factors include age, type of chemotherapy drugs prescribed and if high- or low-dose chemo is used. 
• Radiation can cause more damage than chemo, depending on the dosage and location of treatment. 
• Hormonal drugs used in cancer treatment can disrupt the menstrual cycle. 
• Reproductive surgery (testicles, uterus or ovaries) might impact fertility and cause scarring. 

How we can help

Our Austin fertility doctors understand the vital role that cancer caregivers play for patients. While fertility preservation might feel like a sensitive topic to address, it actually is an important quality-of-life issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. In bringing it up, you are sending a strong signal you are considering life beyond cancer, that you see your loved one as a survivor. 

Here are a few fertility preservation options we can typically offer:

• Egg cryopreservation- TFC employs state-of-the-art freezing technology, known as vitrification, a new flash-freezing technology. 
• Sperm cryopreservation- We have been successfully freezing sperm for decades.  
• Embryo cryopreservation – An embryo develops after sperm is added to an egg using both partners’ genetic material using in vitro fertilization. The same cutting-edge vitrification technology used for egg freezing is utilized.  

We understand as caregivers, navigating the present is hard enough. At TFC, an Austin fertility specialist is ready to stand beside you and support your future hopes and dreams. Contact us to learn how we can help.