Exciting Plans in the Works...

Fertile Hope is thrilled to announce that we are pursuing an alignment with a national, cancer-related, nonprofit organization. We are proud to have achieved phase one of our mission and are excited to unveil plans to work towards achieving phase two through a strategic alliance.

During this transition, we are pleased to be working with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to continue to administer our Hotline as well as our Sharing Hope financial assistance program. Please be aware, however, that a few of our programs are currently on-hold, including Centers of Excellence and Professional Education.

We remain committed to our mission of addressing the profound needs of cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility and appreciate your patience during this transition. We are excited to share our plans in the near future.

News Flash - Cancer and Fertility in the New York Times Today

The New York Times published "Family Planning When Cancer Intrudes" today. I am thrilled that they are supporting Fertile Hope's mission by raising awareness about cancer and fertility, but also frustrated by a number of inaccuracies and misleading statements in the article. Bittersweet...

What do you think of the article?

How Do I Explain Cancer & Death to a Two Year Old?

As you can imagine, I hear a lot of cancer stories in my line of work. What you may not realize, however, is that I mostly hear about diagnosis and survival, not death. People come to Fertile Hope, and me, when they are first diagnosed and want fertility information or as they become long-term survivors and want to fulfill their parenthood dreams. Well, today, the reality that cancer kills broke my heart. Someone who touched our family dearly died of cancer over spring break. She left a week ago healthy – or so I thought – and never came back. I am devastated, and I have no idea how to explain this to a two and a half year old. Any advice?

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Awarded as a Leader in Cancer & Fertility

Joyce wraps up her trip to Oregon presenting a Center of Excellence award and having drinks with Olympian Eric Shanteau…

Last night, I was incredibly honored to present OHSU Knight Cancer Institute with Fertile Hope’s Center of Excellence award. The night began with an introduction by Dr. Brandon Hayes-Lattin, the Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at the Knight and a national leader on the issue. I was up next to present our Centers of Excellence award to Dr. Tom Beer, the Deputy Director of the Knight. Dr. Beer commented about the significance of his role as a father in his own life – personal, touching thoughts that really helped illuminate what we are trying do and achieve with this award. Then, Dr. David Lee, a true pioneer in ovarian tissue freezing and Fertile Hope Medical Advisory Board member, spoke about the what working together with the oncology team at the Knight has meant to him and his team at OHSU Fertility Consultants.

The keynote address was given by Eric Shanteau an Olympic swimmer, current world-record holder and testicular cancer survivor. (While Eric was looking sharp in his three-piece suit, he may have disappointed some in the audience who were hoping for a Speedo!) Eric’s description of his challenges with a cancer diagnosis in his twenties, in the public eye, in the midst of his bid for a berth in the Olympics, was funny, frank and moving. The very first question from the audience was whether or not he had banked his sperm! (Not a plant, I swear!) The answer, luckily, was yes.

After the event I was privileged to spend some time talking to Eric and I was impressed by his willingness to use his public persona to give back – in a role-up-your sleeves, do-the-work kind of way – and to do it so quickly – now – when he is less than a year from his own diagnosis and still training and racing.

Joyce had an incredible week promoting young adult cancer. What did you do to raise awareness about young adult cancer this week?

Fast Track Fertility Programs for Cancer Patients

Joyce is up to more great things in Oregon this week...

I just had the opportunity to visit with the doctors and staff at Oregon Reproductive Medicine – a great facility and strong supporter of Fertile Hope for many years. We discussed opportunities for collaboration, and I was particularly interested in learning more about their “Fast Track” program – a special system designed to expedite and simplify the fertility preservation process for their cancer patients. It is a thoughtful and promising model...

What do you think reproductive clinics need to know about cancer patients in order to meet their fertility needs? Anyone other reproductive clinics have special programs for cancer patients?

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist about Cancer & Fertility

1. Will my cancer treatments put me at risk for infertility?
2. What are my fertility preservation options?
3. If I don’t preserve my fertility, what are my post-treatment family-building options?
4. How long does it take for fertility to return and how will I know if I am fertile?
5. Is pregnancy safe after cancer and what are the risks to my children based on my cancer and the treatments I received?

Cancer Video Games - Who Knew?!

Fertile Hope's VP of Programs, Joyce Reinecke, is in Oregon celebrating National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week and just sent me this update:

I just saw Dr. Steve Cole of HopeLab give an amazing talk on their video game, Re-Mission, which was designed to help Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) cancer patients learn more about what is happening to their bodies and give them a sense of control over the cancer experience. It was a great presentation with much input from the audience about what they want to see (or not see!) in version two.

I'd love to know what Fertile Hope's followers think about using video games to teach kids about their cancer? Have you played Re-Mission? Any thoughts on integrating survivorship issues like fertility?