Curious about chemo

I've never heard anything about chemo for our type of cancer causing infertility. And it was never mentioned to me. But I'm happy with my beagle for now, although I'd like to adopt a Russian kid one day. I figure there are enough kids in the world. If there is a lack of anything, it's a lack of good parents in the world! Maybe you could provide a good home to a child that's already here. Just a thought.

Rodney

A friend of ours had testicular cancer/chemo and when it was all done fathered 2 beautiful children..hope the same for you- it is a good question tho to ask your oncologist
Bev

It does sepend on what concoction you have. As people say the newer ones have less knowledge. They all make your sperm a bit wonky at the time so the advice is not to get anyone pregnant for several months after. It is somehting best discussed through with the docs. I banked enough to populate a small african country before I started treatment but that was more because I had radiotherapy which can leave you totally infertile. My wife was pregnant with our first child when I was diagnosed and we are now contemplating whether we want more and will need to go and find out whether any of teh little guys survived!
Sorry for the details but you get used to talking about all bodily funcntions here!
Steve

chynabear said:

I am going to add a question to this thread as well. With those who have finished treatment did the dr recommend not having children or not having children for a certain amount of time?

The day I finished treatment, my oncologist invited me into his office and basically gave me the "It's your life and your decision but I advise against getting pregnant for the first five years" talk. I can see where he's coming from because I could get sick again and have to go through treatment which could be postponed due to being preggers or I could risk making another child motherless.

I have also heard that some people are advised not to have any children after treatment.

That's really interesting. My husband's doctor is kind of like, "Why wouldn't you have children?". Of course, she probably is assuming that it won't be next week or anything. But she has expressed no concern about my husband's genetics or otherwise about him having children in the future. If anything, she noted that we are intelligent and productive citizens and that if anyone should have kids -- it should be us. Cancer happens! And we still don't know why or how or who is going to get it. The world can't stop turning!
However, I can understand your doctor's issues with the fact that if you did have a reccurence, he would want you to be able to get immediate treatment, which could be problematic if you were pregnant. The difference might be in that my husband is male and won't have the hardship or responsibility of actually carrying the child. I think the good news is that you are still young and even in five years, if you choose to wait that long, you will still be young enough to have a baby.
I noticed my husband's age and staging was almost identical to yours. He was a month shy of 28 and had 3 pos lymph nodes putting him at stage 3B. He finished treatment last August and is NED and feeling really good. However, he is still dealing with pretty noticeable neuropathy in his hands and feet. I wish you the best. I hope this information sheds some more light on the topic

Jackie

the male anatomy makes it less likely that a man's fertility will be effected by chemo than a woman's fertility. The wonders of the human body never fail to amaze but the testicals are actually protected by a barrier of sorts that for the most part prevent chemo from crossing into them and causing harm (the brain has a similar barrier). There is no protection from radiatio however and in cases where radiation may be directed toward the testes or even lower abdomen male fertility may be effected. Women are not as lucky and have no barrier protecting their overies from harm during chemo and therefore, a woman's fertily is more easily effected. Talk to your Physician about your options. Another great reasource (depending upon how large the center is where you will be receiving your treatments) is the oncology pharmacist specialists. Most large teaching hospitals have them and they are wonderful resources (after all they are drug experts!)