How do your diagnosis and treatment affect your future chances for parenthood

Oncological diseases in women

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and the trend in recent years has been diagnosing it in younger patients.

Uterine cancer

Endometrial cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Bulgaria. It is detected mainly during menopause, but sometimes also in women within reproductive age.

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases in women of reproductive age.

Ovarian tumors

Accurate definition of the stage disease and histological diagnosis of ovarian tumors are essential in preserving fertility.

Thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in women aged 15-30 years.

Lung cancer

Malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma is the fifth most common malignancy among women at reproductive age and is among the most common cancers during pregnancy.

Colorectal cancer

Depending on the stage of the disease, postoperative chemotherapy may be required, which carries a risk for damaging the ovaries and stopping their function.

Leukemias

Leukemias are a group of oncological diseases of the blood. The bone marrow, which produces all the blood cells, begins to produce blasts – these are altered and immature blood cells.

Lymphomas

Lymphomas are a group of malignancies that arise from a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. They are divided into two major groups: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Oncological diseases in men

The treatment of oncological and hematological diseases includes various combinations of chemo-, radiation-, target therapy, immunotherapy, and in some cases high-dose chemotherapy with transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. These methods are associated with different gonadotoxic risks, ranging from relatively low risk for target therapy to extremely high for high-dose chemotherapy. Fertility preservation through sperm freezing prior to therapy is recommended.

Oncological diseases in children and adolescents

In medical literature, malignant diseases in these patients are included in the so-called CAYA (Childhood, Adolescent, Young Adults Cancer), divided into three subgroups – children, teenagers and young adults with adult carcinomas. Each age group is associated with predominant diseases, corresponding treatments, additional care by the treating multidisciplinary team (treating physician – oncologist/hematologist, surgeon, reproductive specialist, endocrinologist, psychologist, etc.), and a very different fertility preservation strategy.