Cancer patients who hope to have children in the future can now explore fertility preservation options more conveniently through a new partnership between GenPrime Fertility Manila and Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH), the country’s first dedicated cancer hospital.
The partnership brings together HCCH’s comprehensive cancer care and GenPrime’s expertise in fertility care to address an important consideration for some cancer patients: how treatment today may affect their ability to have children in the future.
Protecting future possibilities
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, having children may understandably not be the first thing on their mind. The immediate focus is often on treatment and recovery.
However, certain cancer treatments can affect fertility.
Some chemotherapy medicines can damage eggs in the ovaries or cells involved in sperm production. Radiation therapy may also affect fertility, particularly when reproductive organs or nearby areas are exposed to radiation.
The impact varies depending on factors such as the type and dose of treatment, the part of the body being treated, the patient’s age, and individual circumstances.
Fertility preservation offers medical options that may help preserve the possibility of having biological children in the future, including freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos for possible use later.
Because not every cancer treatment affects fertility in the same way, and fertility preservation may not be appropriate for every patient, speaking with a fertility specialist can help patients understand the potential impact of their treatment and the options available to them.
Bringing cancer and fertility care together
Through the partnership, HCCH and GenPrime Fertility Manila are bringing cancer and fertility care closer together, allowing patients to access guidance on fertility preservation as part of their overall cancer care journey.
Patients who may benefit from fertility preservation can be connected with GenPrime’s fertility specialists to discuss how their planned treatment could affect fertility and what options may be available to them.
This can give patients an opportunity to explore fertility preservation before cancer therapies begin, when medically appropriate.
‘Patients facing cancer already have so much to navigate. They shouldn’t also have to figure out on their own where to go or who to speak to if they hope to have a baby or become parents in the future,’ said Dr. Anthony Marc Ancheta, Medical Director of GenPrime Fertility Manila.
‘Through our partnership with Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, we can help patients understand their fertility options at the right time, while considering not only the treatment they need today, but also the life and family they may hope to have after treatment,’ Dr. Ancheta added.
Looking beyond cancer treatment
According to Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, HCCH President and CEO, while immediate cancer treatment is the top priority following a diagnosis, comprehensive care must also extend beyond the disease to support patients’ overall quality of life and future aspirations.
‘For patients who may want to have children someday, fertility can be an important part of that future. Our partnership with GenPrime Fertility Manila allows us to connect appropriate patients with fertility specialists early, so they have the opportunity to understand their options before treatment begins,’ said Dr. Roxas.
Located in Parañaque City, GenPrime Fertility Manila is part of GenPrime Fertility’s global network, with clinics in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Los Angeles.
The Manila clinic provides fertility assessments, fertility preservation, and assisted reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), giving Filipino patients access to fertility care locally while drawing on the practices and expertise shared across the GenPrime network.