When the dreaded word “Cancer” enters the picture, dealing with this disease becomes the first thing in the patient’s life. And it is that, the diagnosis in practically all the cases is something unexpected, and it causes that everything is paralyzed. Future plans disappear and everything is conditioned to overcome the disease. But being a mother after cancer is possible at IVI, with our free fertility preservation program for cancer reasons.
When the word “Cancer” appears in your life
“It is one of the hardest blows that life can give you, as a patient or as a family member. But also as a doctor of a specialty that, until 15 years ago, could hardly help these women. It was then that, in a pioneering way, we imported the oocyte vitrification technique. This opened a wide range of indications for us in the reproductive field. Among them, a specific type of patient to help was that of young women diagnosed with cancer. Of which, the vast majority did not have children at the moment “, explains Dr. Javier Domingo, Coordinator of the free Fertility Preservation Program for oncological reasons.
But there are plans that need us to take a look at the future, to plan it. This is the case of motherhood after having overcome cancer. Something that, more than a plan for the future, is an illusion that recharges the patient’s energies to fight the disease.
Preservation of fertility for oncological reasons
That is why in 2007 we created the programs “Being a Mother after Cancer” and “Being a Father after Cancer”. These are fertility preservation programs for oncological reasons that IVI offers these patients free of charge. Women and men with a difficult path ahead, but thanks to this program they have hope for the future and a goal to fight for. In these almost 15 years, more than 1,400 women diagnosed with cancer have been able to preserve their fertility. In this way, they vitrify their oocytes before undergoing chemo or radiotherapy treatment, which in many cases can damage fertility.
“The best gift is the 48 babies that have already been born thanks to IVI’s cancer preservation programs, together with the 3 that are yet to come. These babies, so desired by their mothers, by their families, are the perfect example of the courage and bravery of these women in their fight against cancer “says Dr. Domingo.
Being a mother after cancer
We know that patients who come to IVI have a complex and delicate path ahead of them. But, in the case of patients diagnosed with cancer, the challenge is twofold. It is about defeating this dreaded disease and then becoming mothers.
This is the case of Gema, a patient at IVI Bilbao, who is already the mother of a little girl, thanks to preserving her fertility: “To everything you feel when you know that you have cancer is added the addition that, if everything goes well and you overcome it, you may not be able to have a family because of the treatment. The first thing is to be alive, of course, but when you go about that you think about the consequences “.
Gema had the support and unconditional love of her partner and family at all times. But, in addition, when she put herself in the hands of IVI Bilbao, she discovered that she was not alone on this path that she was about to travel. “When I arrived and saw the amount of people in that situation, I really wanted to move forward. Everything was very easy and fast, and that was my greatest hope. For this reason, during cancer treatment I counted the days to call IVI and be able to start. I really wanted to “adds our patient.
The importance of preserving fertility
Among the different types of cancer, breast cancer is the most common among women who resort to fertility preservation techniques. Of all the preservations for oncological reasons that we carry out in IVI clinics in Spain, around 65% are cases of breast cancer.
And, the women who resort to this technique are young, with an average age of 32.5 years, so they have a good state of reproductive health. But this, in most cases, will be affected by the cancer treatments they must undergo to overcome the disease.
The profile of patients who preserve for oncological reasons is very different from those who do so for social reasons. These are women who carry out vitrification at an older age, because they voluntarily decide to delay the moment when they become mothers.
To those who vitrify for oncological reasons, Gema transmits a reason for hope, because like her, preserving it will allow them to fulfill their dream of being mothers. “Everything comes. Although sometimes it takes a long time, it is achieved. You must have that hope because if you don’t, it’s all over. “
At IVI we are by your side today and always
Like every October, at IVI we want to do our bit by making visible and supporting all those women diagnosed with breast cancer. And the best way we can help you is with our free fertility preservation programs, which shine a light and an illusion in the future.
“Not only this month, when special attention is devoted to breast cancer, but every day of the year, from IVI we support these and all women who deal with their disease by offering them what is in our hands: a future and real hope of to be mothers once their illness is over. We want them to fight for life in all its aspects, and we put our best technology at their disposal to make it possible ”, concludes Dr. Domingo.
