Breast Cancer, Fertility, and Pregnancy
September 10, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
Breastcancer.org’s “Ask the Expert” Online Conference Addresses Breast Cancer
Patients’ Options for Fertility and Pregnancy During and After Treatment
Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 7:00 – 8:30 pm EDT
What:
Because some breast cancer treatments can affect a woman’s ability to have children, preserving fertility is a major concern for patients looking to start a family after treatment. Also, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant experience a wide range of confusing and frequently frightening concerns about their own health and the health of their baby. This Breastcancer.org “Ask the Expert” online conference addresses fertility and pregnancy in breast cancer patients and how these are affected by their cancer treatments. Topics include:
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Is there a way to know if I’ll be fertile after breast cancer treatment?
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What are some options for preserving my fertility?
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What is cryopreservation and how does it work?
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What are my breast cancer treatment options during pregnancy, and is it safe for me and my baby?
Breastcancer.org – the web’s #1 source for breast cancer and breast health information and support, founded by leading breast cancer oncologist Marisa Weiss, M.D. – hosts a monthly “Ask the Expert” conference series that allows an interactive online discussion between the medical panel and the attendees: breast cancer patients, their families, and friends. Topics are raised by questions posed to the medical experts in real time.
Why:
For breast cancer patients, it is important to know the facts and options regarding fertility and pregnancy. This forum, open to participants from all over the world, will enable attendees to hear from two of the leading experts on fertility preservation on these difficult and confusing treatment issues.
How:
Ask questions at: http://chat.liveworld.com/events/ibreast
When:
Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 7:00 – 8:30 pm EDT
Where:
Visit the Breastcancer.org homepage at any time during the scheduled conference and click on the “Join Conference” button. The live conference will appear in text on your screen. A transcript of the conference will appear online after September 17.
Who:
Experts include:
Kutluk Oktay, M.D.,
An internationally recognized specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Center for Human Reproductive Medicine in New York, is director and founder of the Institute for Fertility Preservation (www.fertilitypreservation.org). He is also professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the division of reproductive medicine at New York Medical College. Dr. Oktay pioneered the ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation procedures and performed the first ovarian transplant procedures in the world. He also developed special ovarian stimulation protocols as well as cryopreservation techniques to preserve fertility and reproductive function in cancer and non-cancer patients who would normally lose their fertility due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.
Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D.
A renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer. A professor of behavioral science at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Schover is also the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters. She has written patient education booklets on “Sexuality and Cancer” published by the American Cancer Society. She coauthored the textbook Sexuality and Chronic Illness. Her research currently focuses on designing computer- or web-based interventions to help cancer survivors make decisions about fertility preservation, coping with fertility-related distress, and resolving sexual problems. Dr. Schover is a member of Breastcancer.org’s Professional Advisory Board.
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Tags: pregnancy blog, fertility after cancer, starting a family after cancer, breast cancer, kutluk oktay MD, infertility, fertility preservation, ovarian cryopreservation, cryoperservation techniques, leslie r schover PhD, sexual problems, chronic illness, sexuality and cancer, sexuality and chronic illness
