When Cancer Changes Everything: Preserving Your Fertility
Imagine this: you hear your doctor say, “You have cancer,” and you’re stunned. You’re trying to absorb the diagnosis when the conversation shifts—to oncologists, treatment plans, and then, unexpectedly, to your fertility.
You think, “Wait, what?”
For many patients diagnosed with cancer during their reproductive years, that moment comes quickly. And here on Long Island, it’s a reality more often than many realize. Nassau and Suffolk counties have historically and consistently shown breast cancer incidence rates higher than the New York State and national averages, according to data from the New York State Department of Health and federal agencies, including The Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. Other cancers, including thyroid, prostate, and leukemia, have also shown significant increases in incidence across the region. Research points to a combination of demographic, screening, and environmental factors.
Many of these diagnoses happen when people are still considering starting or growing a family.
Chemotherapy and radiation are powerful tools against cancer, but they can also damage eggs and sperm. Some surgeries remove reproductive organs. Certain hormone therapies commonly used to treat breast cancer may delay the possibility of pregnancy for years. For some, fertility returns after treatment. For others, the impact can be permanent.
That’s why your doctor may immediately counsel you to consider preserving your current fertility before you begin cancer treatment. You may leave your initial oncologist appointment with a referral and even an appointment scheduled with us.
This is where oncofertility comes in—the intersection of cancer care and reproductive medicine. Through options like egg, embryo, or sperm freezing, patients can preserve the possibility of having biological children in the future.
At RMA of New York – Long Island, we understand how urgent and emotional this time is. Oncofertility consultations can often be scheduled for the same day or the next day. If you decide to move forward, we will coordinate closely with your oncologist to create a timeline that supports both your cancer treatment and your fertility goals. In some cases, that may mean completing one or two IVF cycles before cancer treatment begins, depending on what your oncology team feels is medically appropriate.
Cancer changes everything in an instant. Preserving your fertility is about making sure it doesn’t take away your options for what comes next.