Updated September 19, 2019 11:12:50

At 33, Beth Lefevre was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, a disease rife in her family.

After a full mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy, she needed to make a snap decision about her fertility.

The Canberra woman had three children, including twins, but wanted more. She felt too young to face the prospect she might never conceive again.

"It's overwhelming because you're not only fighting for your life but to also have big life choices stripped away from you as well," Ms Lefevre said.

"And there's time pressure huge time pressures."

She was relieved when told fertility treatment could give her another chance.

Hormone therapy via monthly injections prompted a chemical menopause, causing Ms Lefevre's ovaries to essentially hibernate for a five-year period, after which she will be able to revisit the idea of having more children.

"I'm there thinking 'Wow, I'm lucky that I've got kids. Can you imagine what it would be like to be in this situation and you haven't had the opportunity to even think about it yet?'," she said.

Experts estimate dozens of young Canberra women each year confront the harrowing scenario of a cancer diagnosis that could remove their ability to have children.

Fertility specialist Steve Robson said cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, could have a devastating impact on fertility. Patients had only a small window of time to decide on fertility preservation options, such as freezing eggs or embryos.

"As things stand at the moment, there are a number of independent services in the ACT but there's no centralised way that patients who have this diagnosis can be fast-tracked and smoothly guided through what is a difficult thing," Professor Robson said.

The ACT Government said it would study the feasibility of a dedicated fertility-preservation facility for female cancer patients of reproductive age.

Labor backbencher Tara Cheyne, who promoted the idea, said too many patients were not consulted about fertility options until it was too late.

"This would be a more streamlined, rapid process so patients and their treating specialists can make early, informed, supported decisions about fertility preservation," Ms Cheyne said, adding the facility would be a "one-stop shop" for patients.

"I'm not wedded to a particular model about exactly what this looks like or how it runs, but we just have to make this process simpler: more supported, more connected, more accessible the streamlining of existing services and resources."

Professor Robson backed the idea, saying it could ease the burden many young women already face when diagnosed with cancer.

"So the great advantage of an idea like this that, if somebody receives the diagnosis, the cancer specialists and team treating them can give them a one stop," he said.

"They can immediately go into a skilled, slick team that can help them work through the decision-making and, if necessary, the procedures without delay."

Ms Levefre said the clinic could provide cancer patients with direct access to medical specialists, instead of needing to acquire one referral after another.

"Every single point of those referrals involve waiting or a phone call or a letter to be written or a signature, and that can put a lot of time delay on something which doesn't have enough time," she said.

Cancer patients currently pay thousands of dollars for this fertility treatment. The study will also consider whether the ACT Government should subsidise these costs.

Topics:health,reproduction-and-contraception,fertility-and-infertility,states-and-territories,cancer,ovarian-cancer,diseases-and-disorders,canberra-2600,act

First posted September 19, 2019 09:17:29

The rest is here:
ACT Government considers fertility clinic to help young cancer patients preserve eggs and embryos - ABC News

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