Hello, my husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after a vertebrae fracture and emergency surgery a month ago. He is only 33, we have been married 2 1/2 years, and we have a 6 month old baby. He is currently on Velcade, Revlimid, and steroid treatment. They also recommend a stem cell transplant when he's done with chemo.
Our oncologist said the treatment for the transplant will likely make my husband sterile and unable to have children. We are considering sperm banking. Anyone have any advice or knowledge about this subject?
Any words of encouragement would be helpful. This has turned my world upside down but my husband is so strong and amazing.
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Re: Will stem cell transplant cause sterilization?
Im in the same boat at 27 without having done a SCT. Im wondering same question because i probably need one soon whether its this winter or within next two years. I realize the value in getting the transplant but also i have already put my babies in the bank just in case.
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Barneasada - Name: Mark
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 19
Re: Will stem cell transplant cause sterilization?
first off I am a female so I can only speak to that side of things.
My stem cell transplant has caused premature ovarian failure. I have some hormone function but I am mostly menopausal. we did fertility preservation befoe my transplant, which turned out to be the right decision.
For a man it is much simpler and cheaper so I would recomend doing the fertility preservation (in case sperm banking)
My stem cell transplant has caused premature ovarian failure. I have some hormone function but I am mostly menopausal. we did fertility preservation befoe my transplant, which turned out to be the right decision.
For a man it is much simpler and cheaper so I would recomend doing the fertility preservation (in case sperm banking)
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Will stem cell transplant cause sterilization?
I was diagnosed at age 34 and was advised soon after diagnosis to consider preserving eggs or embryos if I wanted more children. I was referred to a fertility specialist for consult on the options. Freezing eggs is not as reliable, so embryos is a better option. Unfortunately the big hurdle in doing this is cost since preserving fertility is not usually covered by insurance (or wasn't 3 years ago). We already have two children so we did not opt to do it, but I was grateful that the issue was addressed and that I had the opportunity to explore the options before starting treatment.
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Jproesch
Re: Will stem cell transplant cause sterilization?
Any man who is going to be receiving chemotherapy should consider storing sperm cells. The chemo could affect the sperm and maybe not make the person sterile, but could affect the potency or number of sperm. Any oncologist who doesn't make this recommendation is missing the overall picture of quality of life.
I was surprised to find out that one of the cancer centers that I worked with as a PT and which had a Sarcoma program wasn't recommending sperm collection to their teenage patients. The highest incidence of Sarcoma is in adolescent males. Fortunately after a lecture given to the staff of the cancer center by the oncology fertility specialist at the other cancer center I worked for, they started to do this as a part of the routine treatment of their male patients.
I also heard a talk by a man who was diagnosed with lymphoma when he was 13. He was totally embarrassed to overhear his mother talking to another mother in the waiting room at the oncologist's office about sperm collection. She recommended that her son do it. Well, he swallowed his embarrassment and provided his sperm. He has had several recurrences of the lymphoma over the years. At the end of the presentation, he showed a photo of his 2 young children who are the result of the sperm that he saved when he was 13 years old!
So, no matter what you and your husband decide once his myeloma is stable it is a good idea to have saved sperm to use if needed. It is such an easy process for males that it just makes good sense.
Good luck,
Nancy in Phila
I was surprised to find out that one of the cancer centers that I worked with as a PT and which had a Sarcoma program wasn't recommending sperm collection to their teenage patients. The highest incidence of Sarcoma is in adolescent males. Fortunately after a lecture given to the staff of the cancer center by the oncology fertility specialist at the other cancer center I worked for, they started to do this as a part of the routine treatment of their male patients.
I also heard a talk by a man who was diagnosed with lymphoma when he was 13. He was totally embarrassed to overhear his mother talking to another mother in the waiting room at the oncologist's office about sperm collection. She recommended that her son do it. Well, he swallowed his embarrassment and provided his sperm. He has had several recurrences of the lymphoma over the years. At the end of the presentation, he showed a photo of his 2 young children who are the result of the sperm that he saved when he was 13 years old!
So, no matter what you and your husband decide once his myeloma is stable it is a good idea to have saved sperm to use if needed. It is such an easy process for males that it just makes good sense.
Good luck,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Will stem cell transplant cause sterilization?
High-dose melphalan (which is what people typically receive when they undergo an autologous stem cell transplant for myeloma) will definitely cause infertiliity. I would recommend banking. This can be discussed with your oncologist in greater detail, but I would go to a reproductive endocrinologist to discuss fertility options and potential banking.
Good luck!
Pete V.
Good luck!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
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