Cancer and Fertility

This symposium includes 12 personal narratives from individuals who have faced a cancer diagnosis—either their own or their child's—where the disease itself, or their treatment, threatened future fertility. Three additional stories are available in the online supplement. Three commentaries on these narratives are written by an expert in oncofertility, a healthcare ethicist, and a pediatrician completing a fellowship in hematology/oncology. The observations and insights these authors share underscore the importance of addressing fertility loss and preservation early in the cancer journey. These contributions will help clinicians better understand the significance of fertility issues for children and younger adults diagnosed with cancer. They also can contribute to policy discussions about the role of health insurance in meeting the needs of cancer patients. Patients and families reading these stories and commentaries will appreciate learning from the experiences of others.