The day Ally Galea met her cancer specialist he asked her to think about her fertility. Experts say it represents an 'enormous improvement' in awareness, but more can be done.
She was 21 and had just been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.Before starting weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she had an injection to protect her reproductive organs from the medicine.
"I basically had ahead of me some really high-dose chemotherapy and then a stem cell transplant," she said.Ally Galea does not know whether she will use her frozen eggs, but is thankful she has the option.She opted for the eggs, and what could have been a long and difficult process ended up being successful on the first try.
Ms Galea, now 24, is undergoing "maintenance treatment" for the cancer and says she is grateful to have had that initial conversation."I know not everyone's given that option."Austin Hospital clinical haematology director Andrew Grigg said it was now common for oncologists speak with patients about fertility in the small window before treatment.He said while many patients were naturally fertile after cancer treatment, it was always important to have the conversation.
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