64 SIDE EFFECTS AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT /// CHAPTER 41 How can treatment impact my reproductive system? Radiation: Some treatments may cause temporary or permanent fertility problems, which may be temporary or permanent. Reproductive health depends on your age at the time you were diagnosed as well as the treatment you received which may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery. Chemotherapy: Most chemotherapy drugs are not very good at telling the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells. » This means cancer medicine will kill healthy cells in the process of killing cancer cells. » Sperm cells are one type of healthy cell often killed or severely damaged by chemotherapy during treatment. » The cells in the testes that produce sperm can also be damaged by chemotherapy. This damage can be temporary or permanent. Note: It is not possible to have a biologically-related child without your own sperm. Chemotherapies that affect Fertility High Risk to Fertility * Busulfan * Carboplatin * Carmustine (BCNU) * Chlorambucil * Cisplatin * Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) * Dacarbazine * Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) * Ifosfamide * Lomustine (CCNU) * Mechlorethamine * Melphalan * Procarbazine * Temozolomide Low Risk to Fertility * 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) * Bleomycin * Cytarabine * Dactinomycin * Daunorubicin * Fludarabine * Gemcitabine * Idarubicin * Methotrexate * Vinblastine * Vincristine Radiation is a treatment that only harms the cells in the area being treated. Radiation to the brain » The hypothalamus is the area in your brain that produces hormones, such as testosterone. » Radiation to the hypothalamus can reduce the amount of hormones the brain produces and sends to your testes. » This can cause your body to stop producing sperm. Note: The good news is that it is possible to take pills that provide these hormones. This will help your body to function normally and make sperm. Radiation to the testes, lower spine, and pelvis » This kills sperm and damages the cells that produces sperm. » This may harm your future fertility. Surgery: Surgery to the testes » Removal of a testis may be necessary to treat some cancers. » If the other testis is not damaged by chemotherapy or radiation, your healthy testis can still produce good quality sperm. This means that your fertility is not affected, and it is still possible to have a baby naturally. » This means that your fertility is not affected. It is still possible to have a baby naturally. Surgery to the abdomen or pelvis » Surgery in certain areas of abdomen or pelvis can damage the nerves that cause an erection in the penis. » This can make it difficult for semen and sperm to leave the body. There are ways to treat this problem. » As long as the cells that produce sperm are not damaged, it should still be possible for you to have a biologically-related baby. RESOURCES https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-andsexual-side-effects/fertility-and-men-with-cancer/how-cancer-treatments-affect-fertility.htmlhttps://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/fertility-and-men-with-cancer/how-cancer-treatments-affect-fertility.html https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/fertility-and-men-with-cancer/how-cancer-treatments-affect-fertility.html https://fwaya.org/