When diagnosed with cancer a patient deals with a plethora of information, what treatment to have, what the side-effects might be, when do they need to start treatment, etc. For young adults they will also need to look at fertility and if, at any time in the future, they would like to start a family. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy (and some surgeries) may damage the reproductive organs. Prior to any surgery or treatment they will need to decide on fertility preservation (FP).

The options for FP include egg, embryo or ovarian tissue freezing for women and sperm freezing for men. However, the procedure and freezing charges can be expensive and are not covered by insurance or public health services.

We have therefore created a programme for your adult cancer patients who desire to have children in the future. Our objective is to not only raise awareness of the importance of FP but also to support the costs and psychological impact and help alleviate some of the stresses associated with this aspect of their cancer diagnosis.

The Programme is supported by the two universities’ reproductive units, whose consultants include Professor Ng Hung Yu Ernest, Clinical Professor, and Dr. Li Hang Wun Raymond, Clinical Associate Professor, at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU; as well as Professor Chung Pui Wah Jacqueline, Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CUHK.

The Fertility Preservation Clinics of the Hospital Authority will provide counselling, clinical assessment, referral as well as sperm, egg, embryo and ovarian tissue freezing services.

We will be responsible for the vetting and approval of granting financial assistance and assist the cancer patients with our free professional psychosocial support. The grant covers:

●  Standard drugs for ovarian stimulation such as Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

●  Sperm/oocyte/embryo/ovarian tissue handling and freezing

We will provide full financial assistance to eligible young adult cancer patients and this will include two years of freezing storage. If the applicant wishes to continue after the initial two years, they may apply for an extension of another two years from us, upon referral by their doctors and after a health assessment.

Applicants must:

* hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and be at the age of 18 to 35 years old, and live in Hong Kong permanently;

* be newly diagnosed cancer patients;

* have not received any prior chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy; and

* undergo a medical assessment and referred by the aforesaid two universities’ reproductive units’ doctors.

Please call the enquiry hotline at 3656 0800 for more information.