The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation provides free egg freezing for patients suffering from cancer, thus facilitating the option of motherhood once the patient has recovered

20-10-2016

45% of the women who undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy will suffer from ovarian failure. Vitrification means they have the option of later becoming mothers using in vitro fertilisation techniques.

Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante's Social Wellbeing Foundation gives women who have to undergo cancer treatment the option of freezing their eggs free of charge. They can, therefore, become mothers once they have recovered from their illness. Facing cancer is an all-out battle and the challenges include radiotherapy and chemotherapy which can affect the patient's fertility and, in some cases, lead to sterility. Cancers and tumours can also affect young people who, in many cases, have not yet had children. Due to the treatment they have to undergo, there is an impact on their fertility.

As if cancer were not already a big enough psychological challenge, the possibility of ending up sterile is an added complication. It is for this reason that the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation initiated one of its social aims in 2007: the option of freezing eggs for women affected by this illness and which is financed in its entirety by the Foundation.

"If we are able to preserve a woman's eggs, we are contributing towards her future plans", points out Rafael Bernabeu, President of the Foundation and Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu. A woman who has survived cancer has the option of later undergoing in vitro fertilisation treatment in order to become a mother.

The programme consists of providing vitrification free of charge. In this case, the procedure in order to preserve fertility is a little different to the standard one since it is a question of ensuring minimal hormonal impact and obtaining the eggs as quickly as possible.

Around 45% of the women who undergo chemotherapy will suffer from ovarian failure and, therefore, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation believes that preserving future fertility means giving women, who have not had children, the hope of one day being able to do so.

Today is World Breast Cancer Day. Cancer of this type is the most common amongst women. One in every eight women will suffer from this disease which has a significant hereditary factor. It is for this reason that prevention is vital. Experts point out that this type of cancer has an excellent recovery prognosis and, therefore, detection as early as possible is of utmost importance.

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