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J U LY 2 0 0 6
"This is why I wanted to survive."
– Lindsay, two time cancer sur vivor, 7 months pregnant
Thanks to you, more and more people are surviving cancer.
However, most patients don't know that chemo, radiation and
surgery can cause infertility.
When treating a patient during their
reproductive years –
share the secret.
For more information, please visit
www.fertilehope.org
or call (888) 994-HOPE
Made possible by:
share the secret
By Jessica Jacobs, Program Manager
Fertile Hope has recently launched its new Share the above advertisement in the June 2006 issue of the
Highlights in this Issue:
Secret campaign. Through this project, we hope to Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. Conceive
increase public awareness of cancer-related infertility. Magazine also donated ad space for the campaign.
People know that cancer treatments can cause nausea, Fertile Hope is currently working with other publications New ASCO Guideline pg2
vomiting and hair loss but they may not know that to place ads.
infertility is a potential side-effect of treatment. This New Frontiers in pg3
campaign coincides with the release of the American Fertile Hope is also looking for patients, survivors, and
Fertility Preservation
Society of Clinical Oncology guideline on fertility supporters to adopt a local hospital for the Share the
preservation (see page 2). Secret campaign. These volunteers will contact their
Partner Spotlight pg3
local hospital and ensure that Fertile Hope’s educational
As part of this new endeavor, Fertile Hope has materials are available for cancer patients. If you are
developed eye-catching advertisements. The Oncology interested in joining the Share the Secret campaign,
Nursing Society generously donated space for the contact Fertile Hope.
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends, As a new mom, I am more determined than ever to solve
the problem of cancer-related infertility for future patients
As I write this letter, I am overwhelmed with joy after the and survivors, so that they, too, may have a chance at
birth of my daughter and finally being able to see my parenthood. While many issues in cancer will take years
parenthood dreams come true. and millions of dollars to solve, cancer-related infertility
is relatively simple. There are risks and there are options
When my husband and I got married, I found myself in
– we just need to put them together to solve the problem.
a situation common to many cancer survivors – not yet
infertile, but knowing that because of chemo I would go Along with Fertile Hope’s outstanding staff (pictured
into menopause early. So, although we did not have to left), I continue to find strength in the commitment of the
use my frozen eggs this time, we knew that we had to act dedicated professionals, volunteers and supporters who
quickly to start a family. However, getting pregnant was work with us everyday on this challenge. I salute all of
not easy. After several miscarriages, three cycles of in you who give your time, talents and resources to help
vitro fertilization, and uncovering a rare chromosomal ensure that we continue to meet the needs of the people
problem with my husband’s sperm (go figure!), we finally we serve. I hope you enjoy our first newsletter as much as
achieved pregnancy. We relied on the expertise of a top- we’ve enjoyed the work!
notch reproductive endocrinology team and we couldn’t
be more grateful for their tireless efforts. Sincerely,
Lindsay Beck
Fertile Hope’s
Board of Directors
New ASCO Guideline
By Joyce Reinecke, Program Director
Kristin Armstrong, Author and mother
of Luke, Isabelle and Grace
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with the patient their concerns about infertility and
Lindsay Nohr Beck, Founder and
Executive Director, Fertile Hope has recently issued recommendations urging doctors to interest in fertility preservation, as well as available
notify their age-appropriate patients if cancer treatment treatment options, and the best time to undergo fertility
Marcus Berry, Senior Associate,
Ryder Stilwell
puts their future fertility at risk. In addition, ASCO urges preservation measures, before beginning cancer
referral of these patients to a reproductive specialist early treatment.
Chester Evans, Senior Vice President
in the treatment planning process if they are interested
and Chief Financial Officer (Retired),
Coca-Cola Company North America in fertility preservation. Fertile Hope commends ASCO • Patients interested and eligible for fertility preservation
for drawing attention to this critical issue. should be referred to reproductive specialists to facilitate
Madelyn Trupkin Herzfeld, RN, BSN,
decision-making and fertility treatment planning.”
OCN, President, Institute for Medical
Education & Research, Inc. Fertile Hope’s Executive Director, Lindsay Beck, along
with Fertile Hope Medical Advisory Board members, Sperm banking and embryo freezing are identified as
Christy Jones, Founder and CEO,
Drs. Kutluk Oktay, Ann Partridge, Pasquale Patrizio commonly available and considered standard practice
Extend Fertility
and Leslie Schover, participated in the expert panel options. Other fertility preservation techniques, such
Kimberly Anderson Kelleher, Vice as tissue freezing and egg freezing should be seen
convened by ASCO to develop the guidelines. The
President and Publisher, SELF Magazine
panel undertook a thorough review of the literature as experimental at this time, and, therefore, patients
Liz Lange, Founder and CEO, on fertility preservation techniques and the issues should be referred to specialized centers for those
Liz Lange Maternity
surrounding the topic. techniques.
Chris McKechnie, Senior Vice President,
Swiss Re Capital Partners According to ASCO’s press release, “The guideline In studying this topic and deciding to develop
was developed in part due past studies that found guidelines, ASCO recognized that infertility resulting
Elaine Mizer, Senior Vice President,
Citigroup approximately half of oncologists do not initiate fertility from cancer treatment is a major quality of life concern
discussions at the time of diagnosis… The new guideline facing young adult cancer patients and survivors.
Steve Perricone, Director, Head of
High Net Worth Derivatives North makes the following recommendations:
America, Deutsche Bank The complete text of the guideline can be found in the
• Discussion about infertility as a potential risk of June 20th issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and
Samantha Saturn, Vice President of
cancer therapy should be initiated with patients of on ASCO’s website, www.asco.org . In addition, a
Digital Media Marketing,
Columbia Records childbearing age as early as possible after diagnosis. Summary Slide Set is available on the ASCO website
and a Patient Guide is available on the People Living
Ann Vermes, Business Development,
Linklaters New York • Physicians should identify whether the patient is at with Cancer website, www.plwc.org.
risk for treatment-induced infertility, and should discuss
sharing hope: Nowadays, many teenagers have to deal with problems approved immediately. Brian decided to bank his
like peer pressure, dating, and college decisions. For sperm for future use, giving him the opportunity to
a patient’s Brian, an 18 year old in California, those issues seem
minor after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s
someday start a family of his own.
stor y Lymphoma during his junior year of high school. “Cancer affects everyone whether they are rich or poor
and everyone should have the opportunity to have a
family regardless of their income. One day when I’m
“During my exam the doctors found numerous small
looking at my little girl or boy I want them to know about
tumors in my waist, neck and armpits, as well as a
By Brian my tough upbringing, my battle with cancer and that
seven-inch tumor in my spleen and a six-inch tumor
they were able to be brought into this world because I
as told to Michael Volpatt, wrapped around my heart. I was shocked to hear the
discovered Fertile Hope’s Sharing Hope Program.”
news about my tumors and then completely devastated
Larkin/Volpatt Communications when the oncologist told me that I might become sterile
as a result of my cancer treatment.” Brian’s life has dramatically improved in a short period
of time. He underwent six months of chemotherapy and
While the doctors were deciding on the best treatment four weeks of radiation treatment and he is now cancer
for Brian, his grandmother discovered the Sharing Hope free. He plans on moving to Hollywood to pursue his
financial assistance program for fertility preservation. dream of becoming an actor.
She helped Brian fill out the application and he was
Congressional Resolutions to Raise Awareness
By Joyce Reinecke, Program Director
Over the last year, Fertile Hope has worked with elected Fertile Hope is grateful for the support of these policy-
• Urge Your Elected Officials
officials in Washington to raise awareness about the makers and all of the co-sponsors who have signed on to
fertility-related side effects of cancer treatment. As a result the resolutions. We see the resolutions as an important first to Support the Resolution •
of our outreach on Capitol Hill, resolutions concerning step in raising the knowledge level of our elected officials
the issue have been introduced in both the House and the with regard to this issue. We have been tremendously Let them know how this issue has touched
Senate. pleased with the feedback and support that we have your life.
received while doing outreach with Congressional offices
Members of Congress Sue Myrick (R-NC) and Lois Capps for the resolutions. Let your voice be heard! Please go to
(D-CA) introduced House Congressional Resolution 174, www.fertilehope.org/resolution to read
and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) introduced Senate In order to get even broader support for the awareness, the full text of the resolution and to draft
Resolution 331. These non-binding resolutions urge research and expanded access that the resolutions an email to your representatives.
lawmakers to help “raise awareness about fertility side call for, we ask you to reach out to your Congressional
effects and preservation options for cancer patients, to representatives and ask for their endorsement of H.Con.
encourage research that will strengthen technologies for Res. 174 and S.Res. 331.
cancer patients, and to consider ways to improve access
to fertility preservation options for cancer patients.”
New Frontiers in Fertility Preservation Fertile Hope’s
Is Regenerative Medicine a Possibility?
Medical Advisory Board
Ashok Agarwal, PhD, HCLD
By Kutluk Oktay, MD, Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility
Archie Bleyer, MD
Fertility preservation is an ever evolving field offering in the rodents, eggs continue to be produced in adult Zeev Blumenfeld, MD
exciting new possibilities every day. From new life. Jeffrey Boldt, PhD
pregnancies with ovarian transplantation to increasing David Gershenson, MD
success rates with egg freezing the field is burgeoning What about in humans? Can lost eggs be renewed in Roger Gosden, PhD, DSc
with new possibilities. For example, recent research adult life? While this has not yet been proven and there Elizabeth Grill, PsyD
indicates that a method of egg freezing called are many skeptics, some observations prompt further Bradford Kolb, MD, FACOG
vitrification may yield oocytes that can be fertilized as investigation. One of the exciting observations is the Michael Krychman, MD
ability of ovarian transplants to function beyond the David Lee, MD
efficiently as fresh ones and may result in pregnancy
estimated ovarian reserve in the grafts. For example, Marcia Leonard, RN
rates comparable to standard in vitro fertilization cycles
Mark Leondires, MD
(Oktay et al, Efficiency of Ooocyte Cryopreservation: a breast cancer survivor is continuing to experience
Frederick Licciardi, MD
A Meta-analysis, Fertil Steril, In Press). This heralds the regular follicle growth in her graft beneath the
John Mulvihill, MD
possibility that egg freezing may soon become a more abdominal skin for over 4 years despite a very low
Kutluk Oktay, MD
acceptable form of fertility preservation. initial numbers of eggs counted in her tissue sample
Ann Partridge, MD, MPH
before transplantation (Oktay K et al Lancet 2004).
Pasquale Patrizio, MD, MBE
In my opinion, the most intriguing development of Another conceived spontaneously twice, and had a
John Rinehart, MD, PhD, JD
recent years is the possibility of regenerative medicine. live birth after ovarian transplantation underneath the
Allison Rosen, PhD
Recently, researchers have shown that egg production abdominal skin, apparently as a result of her remaining Zev Rosenwaks, MD
continues through adult life (Johnson J et al, Nature menopausal ovary being revived (Oktay K. Human Peter Schlegel, MD, FACS
2004) and there may be germline stem cells in the Reproduction, June 2006). Leslie Schover, PhD
bone marrow to replenish the ovarian reserve that was Richard Scott, MD, HCLD
depleted by chemotherapy (Johnson J et al, Cell 2005). The most exciting proof is yet to come. Research in my Nancy Snyderman, MD
These findings in rodents raised many eyebrows as they laboratory and other researchers’ laboratories are Yukio Sonoda, MD
went against the convention that “women are born with currently looking at exciting findings which may one Andrea Speck-Zulak, RNC
all the eggs they could have”. More recently, research day change the way we look at how eggs are made Seang Lin Tan, MD
Anthony Thomas, MD
by a few others showed that this proposition may not be and the finality of reproduction may come into question.
Jonathan Tilly, PhD
that off target. In one study, researchers were able to Whether this ambitious proposition will come through
Lynn Westphal, MD, FACOG
regenerate eggs from the stem cells beneath the skin of or not, ethical and social considerations will always
Kevin Winslow, MD, PA
pigs. In another, scientists generated sperm from bone prompt us to continue this research in a responsible
Brad Zebrack, PhD
marrow cells. Furthermore, research that will soon be manner. Welcome to the new frontiers in fertility
published confirms the recent observation that, at least preservation.
par tner spotlight: Organon U.S.A. Inc.
By Beth Layman, Director of Development
In addition to sponsoring our fundraising galas, “Organon is pleased to be the sponsor of this Cancer and
Organon U.S.A. Inc. enhanced its commitment to Fertile Fertility educational effort to help foster communication
between oncologists and reproductive healthcare
Hope this year by becoming the sponsor of our Professional
professionals. Advances in fertility treatments are
Education Program. The purpose of this program is to occurring very rapidly. This valuable program allows
educate oncology physicians and other professionals healthcare professionals to make their patients aware
about the reproductive risks of cancer treatment, as well of the options for preserving their fertility.”
as the fertility preservation options available for their -- Lawrence Ewell, Senior Brand Manager, Organon
patients. Organon’s support has allowed Fertile Hope to
expand the reach of this program so that reproductive We applaud Organon’s efforts to reach out to the
endocrinologists can deliver educational presentations cancer community, and we are grateful for their ongoing
across the country, helping oncology professionals to support.
understand all of the fertility options that are available for
their patients right in their own communities.
announcements:
Fertile Hope 5K Success
The Fertile Hope 5K and Kids 1K was a smash hit. More than 400 people attended the event which raised over
$100,000 in cash and in-kind donations. Fertile Hope is grateful to Board Member Kristin Armstrong, Paige
Alam, Up Hill Productions, the sponsors, media, and all of the volunteers who worked hard to make this event so
successful. We look forward to next year’s 5K!
Save the Date
Mark your calendars for Fertile Hope’s upcoming fundraising galas:
• Thursday, September 14, 2006 - A Magical Night, San Francisco, California
• Friday, November 17, 2006 – Sweet November, New York, New York
Both of these spectacular events feature food, cocktails, dancing, and a silent auction. If you are in the San
Francisco or New York area, please plan on joining us. The money raised from the galas goes directly to supporting
Fertile Hope’s programs.
How You Can Help
Beach Party/ Pool Party Young Professionals Club
This summer, why not host a BBQ or Clam Bake to Fertile Hope recently launched Young Professionals
support Fertile Hope? This is an easy and effective Clubs in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
way to introduce Fertile Hope to your local community. The Young Professionals Clubs will be hosting fun
Fertile Hope staff will work with you to organize the activities designed to raise awareness about Fertile
event. You just need to provide food, beverages, and Hope’s mission, while raising funds to support our work.
a warm, sunny day. When possible, we will send a Contact Fertile Hope to join a local Young Professionals
staff member or survivor to speak about Fertile Hope’s Club or to start one in your city.
mission and programs. By inviting potential supporters
to learn more about us, you can have a huge impact on
those patients and survivors who need the resources
that Fertile Hope provides.
Fertile Hope NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
P.O. Box 624 PAID
NY, NY 10014 STATEN ISLAND, NY
PERMIT # 169
our mission
Fertile Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated
to providing reproductive information, support,
and hope to cancer patients whose medical
888 994.HOPE
treatments present the risk of infertility.
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