Preserving Fertility Through Cancer Treatment

12/14/22 • 34 min

This is a special episode of the Marrow Masters Podcast. Not only do we have two guests, but we are also diving into a very important topic that isn't often discussed. When you're facing transplant, fertility may be the furthest thing from your mind. But chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments could impact your body's ability to start a family. That's why it's critically important to at least have a conversation before starting treatment.

Today's guests are Dr. Quinton Katler, a reproductive endocrinologist at Shady Grove Fertility, and Emily Beard, a Registered Nurse with Northside Cancer Institute. They are here to share their perspectives and talk about options.

Fertility preservation can take as little as two weeks. And while some patients must begin treatment immediately, there are many cases in which a two-week delay will not impact a patient's prognosis. A patient in their 20's, for example, may not be thinking about starting a family right now, but could have plans to later in life. This is why it can be critical to look at options, and have a collaborative conversation with his or her entire team.

Emily talks about the mental health issues surrounding these conversations, and Dr. Katler gets into the medical options. These can include egg harvesting and freezing, embryo freezing, and freezing of sperm. These are ways to preserve the building blocks of life before they can be damaged by cancer treatment. Following treatment and a waiting period, Dr. Katler walks us through the processes of IUI, IVF, and more. And of course there are other options, such as adoption.

Many of these procedures do come with "sticker shock," and we have a comprehensive list of resources available to our listeners, including:

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/fertility-and-women-with-cancer/how-cancer-treatments-affect-fertility.html

Live Strong Family Building Options including Fertility Preservation: https://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/fertility-services/helping-fertility-centers-provide-family-building-options-cancer-patients

Fertility Scout (from Alliance for Fertility Preservation): https://www.allianceforfertilitypreservation.org/about-fertility-scout/

SaveMyFertility.com: https://www.savemyfertility.org/pocket-guides/patients/fertility-preservation-women-diagnosed-cancer

Oncofertility financial assistance

Team Maggie’s Dream (need based grants available for fertility preservation costs): https://www.teammaggiesdream.org/grants

The Sam Fund: https://www.thesamfund.org/get-help/resources/family-building-support/

Other small non profit organizations that support family building in various ways

Worth the Wait (funding for family building options e.g. IVF, adoption, surrogacy, et.) - https://worththewaitcharity.com/who-we-support/

Verna’s Purse (funds for storage fees through Reprotech) - https://www.reprotech.com/vernas-purse/

LiveStrong financial assistance – https://www.livestrong.org/what-we-do/program/fertility

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute: https://www.northside.com/services/cancer-institute

Shady Grove Fertility: https://www.shadygrovefertility.com

Newsletter about this topic: https://www.northside.com/about/news-center/article-details/oncofertility-emerges-as-a-new-specialty-in-survivor-care

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website:

Many of these procedures do come with "sticker shock," and we have a comprehensive list of resources available to our listeners, including:

Fertility Scout (from Alliance for Fertility Preservation): https://www.allianceforfertilitypreservation.org/about-fertility-scout/

SaveMyFertility.com: https://www.savemyfertility.org/pocket-guides/patients/fertility-preservation-women-diagnosed-cancer

Oncofertility financial assistance

Team Maggie’s Dream (need based grants available for fertility preservation costs): https://www.teammaggiesdream.org/grants

The Sam Fund: https://www.thesamfund.org/get-help/resources/family-building-support/

Other small non profit organizations that support family building in various ways

Worth the Wait (funding for family building options e.g. IVF, adoption, surrogacy, et.) - https://worththewaitcharity.com/who-we-support/

Verna’s Purse (funds for storage fees through Reprotech) - https://www.reprotech.com/vernas-purse/

LiveStrong financial assistance – https://www.livestrong.org/what-we-do/program/fertility

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute: https://www.northside.com/services/cancer-institute

Shady Grove Fertility: https://www.shadygrovefertility.com

Newsletter about this topic: https://www.northside.com/about/news-center/article-details/oncofertility-emerges-as-a-new-specialty-in-survivor-care

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website:

Previous Episode

AML Survivor Lela Prewitt Talks GVHD Tips

Lela Prewitt was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) n February of 2021. She walks us through her diagnosis and transplant process. This includes having to move with her wife from their small community to Seattle, so they could have access to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, also known as "The Hutch."

Lela's transplant in June 2021 went well, but she developed Graft Versus Host Disease, and with it came many complications. She talks about the need for education about survivorship post-transplant. Often, patients are so focused on the procedure itself, the time following isn't given as much consideration. But this period is crucial. It can involve balancing medication and GVHD symptoms.

We cover the importance of building you own team. In Lela's case, that includes her team at The Hutch, but also her physicians back home in Port Angeles. Communication between you and your team - and between the team itself - is key. Also, medication cost can be a factor. Lela talks about advocating for yourself with different drug companies.

While you may be facing a "new normal," perspective is key. Lela says there are days where "doing" is less important than being alive. You may only have a finite amount of energy, and you need to prioritize. She cites the "spoon theory" from Christine Miserandino, that we referenced in a previous episode with Meredith Cowden - that you can listen to here: https://marrowmasters.simplecast.com/episodes/meredithcowden2

There will be changes and adjustments in your day-to-day life. For example, the long walks Lela enjoyed with her wife Carol are now aided by a wheelchair, depending on her energy level. And now her wife makes her a warm mocha every morning to watch the sunrise.

Mental health is crucial - Lela talks about everything from positive self talk to meditation and yoga. Also, know what you and your support system are comfortable talking about. Lela finds comfort in books written by cancer patients who have since passed, but her spouse isn't comfortable thinking about Lela's mortality. It's important to understand these dynamics.

We close with Lela's positive attitude and her hope to recover her strength, fight through her GVHD, and resume those long walks.

Resources

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/

nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINK

nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.

Thank you to this season's sponsors:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org

Sanofi: https://www.sanofi.com/

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/

nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINK

Follow the nbmtLINK on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/nbmtlink/

The nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.

To participate in the GVHD Mosaic, click here: https://amp.livemosaics.com/gvhd

Next Episode

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor Kate Arnold's Top Tips

Kate Arnold underwent a stem cell transplant for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 12 years ago. She joins us today to discuss her best survivorship tips for every step of the process.

First, you need a goal--- a "why." For Kate, she wanted to get her young daughters through high school. Today, they are both in college.

Throughout this process, listen to your gut. ASK QUESTIONS - there are no stupid questions, even if they seem trivial. Make sure you have a medical team that you are comfortable with. Despite many options available in Chicago, Kate opted to have her treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

It's also important to find humor in your situation. Kate says she and her husband were very open about their story, and weren't afraid to crack jokes. Also, even if you have cancer, you still have a life beyond that. Kate talks about dancing in the kitchen with her kids.

Make your mental health a priority. Through the Cancer Wellness Center, Kate found a therapist that had a specialty in oncology - she was uniquely qualified to talk about all aspects of the process - even those dark thoughts that creep into a patient's head. She learned that adjusting to a gratitude mindset was very helpful.

Because she wasn't afraid to speak up for herself, Kate often got direct phone numbers for doctors and other staff. She tells us a story about when that came in very handy.

Often, when you have cancer, well-meaning friends and family can say some pretty awful things. Kate and Peg talk about ways to pivot the conversation away from difficult topics, horror stories, or simply bad advice.

Kate is very open and honest about regrets she has had through this whole process. She wishes she had secured mental health help for her kids earlier, and she also wishes she'd been more compassionate toward bad behavior. She encourages any parent with cancer to think about where their children's outbursts are coming from. In fact, it was something her youngest said that gave her clarity.

All patients - and all treatment centers - are different. Advice and protocols change between them. It's important to listen to your medical team.

Links:

MD Anderson Cancer Center: https://www.mdanderson.org/

Imerman Angels: https://imermanangels.org/

Be The Match: https://bethematch.org/

Other Resources

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.

nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/

nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINK

nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.

Thank you to this season's sponsors:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org