title: Frozen hope: fertility preservation for women with cancer.
abstract: Young women diagnosed with cancer have the option of preserving their fertility by using assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques prior to undergoing cancer treatment. This article presents a composite case of a young woman with cancer who had many unanswered emotional and ethical questions about her future as a parent. Fertility preservation techniques, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and related patient education are described. Current literature regarding reproductive counseling for cancer survivors is reviewed. Resources for providing psychosocial support for decisions about fertility preservation are lagging behind the rapid pace of scientific advancements in cancer treatment and ART. As more young women are surviving cancer and taking steps to preserve fertility, there is great need for the provision of psychologic support services and the establishment of ethical guidelines to aid them on this path. Women's health care providers can provide support to cancer survivors facing fertility and parenting issues by becoming knowledgeable about the long-term aspects of decision making and developing educational materials and guidelines for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Moffitt Cancer Center - USF Health Outcomes, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC CANCONT, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. gwen.quinn@moffitt.org
authors.forename: Gwendolyn P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Vadaparampil
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Caprice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: Geri E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents