在美國，每年都有將近5萬名新增確診的癌症患者，而這些患者大部分年齡在35歲以下，儘管這個數據如此驚人，但是以現在如此先進的醫療技術手段，癌症患者的生存率已有大幅提高。因此，對於男性和女性的癌症患者來說，諸如生兒育女的生活質量問題，稱爲了癌症治療所需考慮的重要組成部分。
不幸的是，衆多的治療手段往往把消除腫瘤的惡性程度放在首位，而將患者的生育要求置於次要地位。在這些案例中，患者的生育要求應當在癌症治療的早期階段得到重視和考慮，如果可能的話，應當滿足他們生兒育女的要求。這其中包括腫瘤治療和腫瘤本身對生兒育女的影響，如對患者及其後代健康風險的評估等。
本文譯自Lancet，如轉載請註明出處。
Annually, more than 50 000 cancer diagnoses are made in the USA in patients under the age of 35 years. Despite this staggering statistic, medical advancements have substantially improved survival rates. Thus, for both male and female patients with cancer, quality-of-life issues, such as fertility preservation and parenthood, have become an essential component of treatment. Unfortunately, many of the treatments to eradicate malignant processes can also compromise reproductive function. In these cases, fertility preservation should be discussed and initiated with early treatment planning, to allow the best chance for future parenthood, when appropriate. The effects of cancer and cancer treatments on fertility and future parenthood, including health risks for patients, their gametes, and offspring are discussed.
