MEDICINE

Survive Cancer, Have Baby

The emerging field of oncofertility offers hope to patients who worried that they couldn't conceive.

By Anna Kuchment | NEWSWEEK
Published Jul 26, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Aug 4, 2008

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  • Posted By: archmsu @ 07/27/2008 4:50:45 PM

    Why is having a child in an overpopulated world so important to people? Maybe their lives are worthless and they feel by producing another human being that they might be accomplishing something. Did anyone ever stop to think that the raise of infertity in women might be Mother Natures way of controlling the human population?

    • Posted By: emily j. @ 07/30/2008 2:13:20 PM

      Infertility is a disease, not a choice, especially infertility as the result of chemotherapy. Oncologists are not trying to sterilize their patients, they're trying to save their lives. Again, it's chemotherapy that renders these patients infertile. NOT Mother Nature. Deciding not to have children when you have that choice is a totally different scenario.

      • Posted By: ecdivas @ 11/12/2008 2:08:07 PM

        Unless the patient unknowingly has fertility challenges present before treatment.

    • Posted By: ecdivas @ 11/12/2008 1:52:18 PM

      I completely agree with you. There are so many selfish people out there who want to spawn....for what?! Adopt! There are so many children in need of a good, loving home, which I am sure Ms. Villarreal and Maddy's father could have provided. Why risk your health in having a child? Not only has Ms. Villarreal's cancer recurred, but she will more than likely leave Maddy without a mother. Selfish?

    • Posted By: thisisrice @ 07/28/2008 9:06:23 AM

      Sorry to see that your parents did not have the same view as you. Congratulations on being secure enough in your life that you feel comfortable criticizing the choices made of women with cancer. My thoughts are with these women and all the rest in similar situations. What they have gone through can only be described as miraculous and their children are blessing.

  • Posted By: slsaenz @ 07/31/2008 10:30:03 AM

    As someone who is currently undergoing testing to see if I have stage II Lymphoma and what kind at the age of 33, I can relate. My husband wants another child along with our 4 year old. I don't think I want to go through (or can afford) the ovary saving or egg saving procedure at this time. My main concern is that my possible cancer can't be cured and I won't be here for my daughter. I can understand the hope of the women to someday have a child, though. It has been a miraculous thing in my life. Good luck to all these women and I hope you find support no matter what choice you make.

  • Posted By: IsraelFro @ 08/02/2008 10:53:02 PM

    I am the brother of Ronny Villarreal who is pictured and discussed in this article. I want to tell my point on this matter from a family perspective. Its hard to understand such unfairness. I love my sister so much. I worry a lot for her recovery that at times it makes me sad. She has a great husband who takes care of her very well. I havent seen my niece Maddy but I can tell she is the product of perseverance. I aswell as my family wish everyone true happiness.

  • Posted By: eccorwin @ 07/28/2008 6:21:04 AM

    iT IS TOO BAD THAT THE ROLE OF INTRAVENOUS ASCORBIC ACID IN FIGHTING MANY CANCERS HAS BEEN SUPPRESSED FOR THIRTY YEARS AND IS ONLY NOW BEGINNING TO BE RECOGNIZED BY STUDIES AT THE NATIONAL iNSTITUTE OF HEALTH. NONHODGKINS LYMPHOMA IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS THERAPY, WHICH WOULD NOT THREATEN A WOMAN'S FERTILITY, NOR DEVASTATE HER IMMUNE SYSTEM. THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF MEDICAL CENTERS THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZING INTRAVENOUS ASCORBIC ACID SUCCESSFULLY FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THE AMA HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ANY COURSE OF THERAPY THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW THEIR PRESCRIBED COURSE OF TREATMENT FOR CANCER.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 07/30/2008 2:05:59 PM

      You got one thing right about American medicine and that's the word "Treatment" as much money been spent, and discovered, all we STILL can do is, treat, not cure,mmm why? It's a terrible thing, to stay the course on. Time to cure, we know how! we just will not let it out. it's more profitable to treat than cure. This attitude concerning health, is getting real old, and the suffering is unnessary.

  • Posted By: thisisrice @ 07/28/2008 9:07:21 AM

    archmsu: Sorry to see that your parents did not have the same view as you. Congratulations on being secure enough in your life that you feel comfortable criticizing the choices made of women with cancer. My thoughts are with these women and all the rest in similar situations. What they have gone through can only be described as miraculous and their children are blessing.

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