Ovarian Transposition

For women who will receive pelvic radiation that affects the ovaries, ovarian transposition can be considered. This involves surgically moving the ovaries up and out up the pelvis and thus, out of the radiation field.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation

This treatment involves surgically removing an ovary or a portion of one. The tissue is then sliced into small pieces and frozen. Each piece contains hundreds of immature eggs. Although no longer considered experimental, this treatment is not widely available and should be pursued at experienced centers.

Egg and Embryo Freezing

Egg and embryo freezing are considered to be the most efficacious and standard of care options to preserve fertility. The process involves taking injectable hormones to stimulate the ovaries to ripen multiple eggs at once. Then the eggs are removed in a minor, outpatient surgery. Using ultrasound, the fertility specialist guides a needle through the upper vagina into each follicle on the surface of the ovary, “harvesting” the egg inside. Once eggs have been removed, they can be frozen or fertilized in the lab with the sperm of a partner or a donor. Eggs that fertilize and form embryos are frozen and stored for future use if the patient needs them. This process is called in vitro fertilization (IVF).

[fusion_builder_container type="flex" hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" border_style="solid"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_repeat="no-repeat" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="true" hover_type="none" first="true"][fusion_text] Radiation treatment to the pelvic area also damages the ovaries and testicles, which are very sensitive to even low doses of radiation. The amount of damage depends on the size of the radiation field, the dose of radiation given, and the number of treatments. If the uterus is included in the radiation field, it can be damaged, making it difficult for a woman to conceive and carry a pregnancy. [/fusion_text][fusion_button link="https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/resource/resource-library/guide-in-the-fight/oncology/radiation/" target="_self" aria_role_button="0" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" color="custom" button_gradient_top_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" linear_angle="180" accent_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" border_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" stretch="default" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" hover_transition="text_slide_up" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0"]Radiation Therapy[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container type="flex" hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" border_style="solid"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_repeat="no-repeat" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="true" hover_type="none" first="true"][fusion_text] Chemotherapy can damage sperm and eggs. The amount of damage depends on the type and dose of the drugs a person receives. Ask your doctor if your chemotherapy drugs or targeted therapies have been shown to induce infertility side effects. [/fusion_text][fusion_button link="https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/resource/resource-library/guide-in-the-fight/chemotherapy/" target="_self" aria_role_button="0" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" color="custom" button_gradient_top_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" linear_angle="180" accent_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" border_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" stretch="default" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" hover_transition="text_slide_up" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0"]chemo 101[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container type="flex" hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" border_style="solid"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_repeat="no-repeat" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="true" hover_type="none" first="true"][fusion_text] Surgery that involves removal of the uterus and/or both ovaries in women will cause infertility. In addition, it may cause scarring that can make it difficult to conceive. [/fusion_text][fusion_button link="https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/resource/resource-library/guide-in-the-fight/surgery/" target="_self" aria_role_button="0" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" color="custom" button_gradient_top_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="var(--awb-color4)" linear_angle="180" accent_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" border_hover_color="var(--awb-color1)" stretch="default" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" hover_transition="text_slide_up" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0"]surgery types[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

What happens after I pass away?

The hospice team will help offer post-mortem care, which may include a bath, removal of tubes and IVs, and a change of clothes. Trained hospice workers can also help coordinate what happens to your body, details for the death certificate, and funeral home coordination. Hospice workers are also excellent in helping the family emotionally process a passing. Families and cultures handle death differently, and hospice workers will help the family members grieve and prepare for burial.

How long will I be on hospice?

Generally, hospice care begins when a person is expected to live less than six months. So, typically, the length you will be in hospice care is determined by how long you live after beginning care. Hospice care continues until end of life, and while it is impossible to 100% accurately predict when someone will pass, care will generally not be started until it appears that a patient’s life expectancy is six months or less. If a patient happens to live longer than six months in hospice, they can remain in hospice until the end of their life. It is possible, however unlikely, that a patient may experience some type of rebound or revitalization while receiving hospice care. In a situation like this, hospice care can be withdrawn and then resumed if life expectancy returns to six months or less.

Who pays for hospice?

There are multiple types of hospice care – in home, inpatient, nursing home based, or hospital based. These will vary in price, but generally, should be covered by insurance. Hospice care is covered by Medicare Hospice Benefits, Veteran’s Administration benefits, and may be covered by Medicare benefits, which vary on a state-by-state basis. Private insurance provides at least some coverage for hospice care as well, but each insurance plan will be different. Private insurance may have criteria for who can go on hospice care and specifics about what will be covered. Talk to your insurance provider about what they will and won’t cover.

How do I go on hospice?

Hospice care is provided by a hospice care team or program, normally in tandem with the patient’s primary caregiver (typically a family member). Hospice care is typically started when a patient’s cancer can no longer be controlled, and their life expectancy is less than six months. Accessing hospice care should start as a conversation between the patient (if possible), their primary caregiver, and their healthcare team or physician most closely managing their care. Generally, hospice will become an option once it becomes clear that the cancer can no longer be controlled, therapy is no longer effective, and life expectancy is short.

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Who we are

December 22, 2024
Ovarian Transposition
December 22, 2024
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation
December 22, 2024
Egg and Embryo Freezing
December 22, 2024
Radiation
December 22, 2024
Chemotherapy
December 22, 2024
Surgery
December 22, 2024
What happens after I pass away?
December 22, 2024
How long will I be on hospice?
December 22, 2024
Who pays for hospice?
December 22, 2024
How do I go on hospice?

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