Irish campaign group Europa Donna Ireland has today published an information booklet on fertility issues for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer and Fertilitybooklet is the first comprehensive guide of its kind for women of child-bearing age in Ireland who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The guide, which was announced by Minister for Health Mary Harney, was initiated by Europa Donna member and breast cancer survivor Marie Ennis and produced in collaboration with embryology, oncology and cancer nursing experts.
Some treatments that are used to treat breast cancer can affect a woman's fertility, with the three most important factors in determining fertility risk with chemotherapy being a woman's age, type of chemotherapy used and dosage.
Minister for Health Mary Harney announced the publication of Breast Cancer and Fertility, a booklet published by Europa Donna today.
"Women need to be empowered with enough information during the critical window between diagnosis and treatment to understand how various treatments affect the reproductive system," Ms Ennis said.
"This can help women understand their risks and make more informed decisions in relation to the parenthood options that are available to them both before and after treatment," she added.
Europa Donna Ireland chairwoman, Christine Murphy-Whyte said: "For younger victims of breast cancer in Ireland, the difficulty in making emotional decisions regarding fertility and cancer treatment has often been compounded by the lack of readily available information."
Ms Murphy-Whyte said the new booklet contains information specific to Irish women. In the past, such information was UK- or US-based.
The booklet will be issued to cancer support centres, breast-care nurses, specialist breast centres, and to relevant hospitals, clinics and medical centres.