As breast cancer awareness rises this October, Orchid Fertility urges early action in fertility preservation. Egg freezing before cancer therapy can safeguard the dreams of motherhood for young women undergoing treatment.
DUBAI: As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Orchid Fertility in Dubai is spotlighting a vital yet often overlooked part of cancer care: egg freezing before cancer therapy. For many young women diagnosed with cancer during their reproductive years, treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can severely impact fertility. But modern advances in cryopreservation now offer real hope.
Fertility preservation — which includes freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos before treatment — is giving patients a way to hold on to their dream of parenthood, even after battling cancer. According to Dr. Partha Sarathi Das, Medical Director at Orchid Fertility, the process is not just possible but should be a standard part of oncology care. “The decisions made before treatment can change lives years later,” he says.
Dr. Arva Dhanaliwala, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Orchid Fertility, explains that egg freezing is especially valuable for breast cancer patients, who often need to begin chemotherapy quickly. “We can begin egg retrieval even outside the regular menstrual cycle,” she adds. For men, sperm freezing is a simple and established solution, while couples may opt for embryo cryopreservation. Advanced options like ovarian tissue freezing are also emerging for younger or urgent cases.
One compelling case is that of a 33-year-old patient diagnosed with lymphoma who chose to freeze her eggs before starting chemotherapy. In just nine days, seven mature eggs were successfully cryopreserved. Eight months later, after recovery and marriage, she returned to create embryos — resulting in six high-quality blastocysts, three of which were genetically normal. Her decision allowed her to take control of her fertility and future.
With breast cancer survival rates steadily improving, attention is shifting to post-treatment quality of life — and fertility is a major component. Orchid Fertility advocates for fertility preservation to become a routine part of every young patient’s cancer care plan. “Modern technology allows us to offer real choices, and real hope,” adds Dr. Das.
Egg freezing before cancer therapy gives women the power to plan for motherhood, even when facing life’s toughest challenges.
