Researchers explore the double trauma of post-cancer infertility
A diagnosis of cancer is a life changing event which sets in motion a long succession of medical treatments, tests and interventions that are all designed to save and prolong human life.
With medical advances, more and more people are surviving their illness – however, for many of these survivors, the ongoing effects of their treatments have long-term impacts on the quality of their post-cancer life.
Professor Jane Ussher from the Centre for Health Research at the University of Western Sydney says the realisation that life after cancer may not involve children is a double-blow that they were not expecting.
“During the cancer treatment, the attention of the patients and medical practitioners is focused on surviving. But after the initial battle comes the distress, fear and heart-break that is associated with post-cancer infertility,” says Professor Ussher.
Professor Ussher, as part of a team of leading women’s health researchers at UWS, is investigating the experience of fertility post-cancer for people with cancer and their partners.
People living with cancer, irrespective of their cancer types and stages, age groups, relationship status and cultural groups, are invited to take part in this important study.
“Fertility is an important aspect of quality of life and there is growing evidence that changes to fertility can be the most difficult long term effect of cancer diagnosis and treatment,” says Professor Ussher.
“Unfortunately, fertility is rarely addressed by health professionals and remains largely invisible within cancer policy and practice guidelines. Throughout the cancer treatment, the context of the individual’s life and whether they are considering having children is an issue that is rarely discussed or considered.
“By conducting this research, and bringing this issue to the forefront of medical debate, we will be in a better position to provide the support that people need to handle this often disastrous consequence of the cancer experience.”
Individuals with cancer and their partners are invited to take part in the study. Participation will involve the completion of a survey and potentially an interview with a UWS researcher.
Participants can complete the survey online, or contact the researchers for a paper version. The researchers can be contacted on, phone: 1800 19 20 02 (free call) or email: cancerandfertility@uws.edu.au
The project will be conducted within the Health Services and Outcomes Research Group at UWS, in partnership with Cancer Council New South Wales (CCNSW), National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), CanTeen, Westmead Hospital, (Centre for Gynaecological Cancer), Sydney West Cancer Network Psycho-oncology Service (SWCNPS), and Family Planning New South Wales (FPNSW).
The project is funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (2011-2014) and has received ethical approval from the University of Western Sydney Human Ethics Research Committee.
Ends
17 September 2012
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