Cancer Survivors And The Fight To Preserve Fertility

For many cancer survivors, the relief of beating the disease is quickly replaced by the fear of losing their ability to have children.

Aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation often threaten fertility, leaving survivors anxious about whether motherhood will still be possible. But new advancements in reproductive health are changing that narrative, offering hope that surviving cancer does not have to mean giving up the dream of becoming a parent.

The Medical Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, stressed the growing importance of fertility preservation in cancer care. “Many women survive cancer, but treatment can compromise their reproductive potential. As survival rates improve, we now want to ensure these women can still have children afterward,” he said.

Cancer treatments can severely damage the ovaries, reducing both egg quality and quantity, and in many cases leading to infertility. To address this, the Nordica Fertility Centre, in partnership with the FCT Administration (FCTA), is working to integrate fertility preservation into the treatment plans of cancer patients.

Fertility preservation involves medical interventions aimed at protecting or restoring reproductive potential before treatment begins. For women, options include egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation), ovarian tissue freezing, and embryo freezing. Male patients can preserve their fertility through sperm banking.

Speaking on the theme “Onco-Fertility: Preserving Fertility in the Face of Cancer Management” during the Abuja Reproductive Health Week, Dr. Ajayi emphasized that awareness remains the biggest gap. “You can only benefit from what you know exists. Through this partnership, we hope to raise awareness and improve access,” he said.

Despite available local expertise, many Nigerian women remain unaware of fertility preservation options, with some even travelling abroad for procedures offered within the country. Dr. Ajayi urged stronger media engagement to bridge this information gap. “We owe it to our people to let them know what is available locally. Some patients are referred back to us from abroad because they didn’t realize the service exists here,” he noted.

The Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment, FCTA, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to reproductive health services. “We want the FCT to become the women’s care and reproductive health centre of Nigeria. People are travelling abroad for procedures they can now access right here,” she said.

Dr. Fasawe highlighted the emotional toll cancer takes on women. “Cancer affects more than health—it affects a woman’s entire life trajectory, including her ability to conceive. Through this partnership, we are ensuring survivors have the option to become mothers when they are ready.”

With Abuja now designated a Cancer Challenge City, global partners including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) are supporting efforts to strengthen cancer care. Early detection and fertility preservation are becoming priority components of comprehensive care.

The event also showcased groundbreaking innovations in fibroid treatment. One highlight was the introduction of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a non-invasive procedure that removes fibroids without surgery. Nordica Fertility Centre currently hosts the only two HIFU machines in Nigeria, making it the first facility in West Africa to deploy the technology.

“Fibroid is a known cause of infertility. With HIFU, we can treat fibroids without compromising a woman’s ability to conceive,” Dr. Ajayi said.

While these medical strides offer renewed hope, affordability remains a major challenge. Dr. Fasawe noted that efforts are underway to make treatments more accessible. “We are exploring ways to support women, whether through out-of-pocket support, financial assistance, or insurance to make these procedures affordable.”

Stakeholders expressed optimism that continued dialogue will spur better policies, stronger infrastructure, and wider public awareness.

With expanding partnerships, rising awareness, and rapid advances in reproductive medicine, cancer survivors no longer have to choose between staying alive and becoming mothers. As these initiatives strengthen, the dream of motherhood remains within reach for countless women, bringing hope, dignity, and a new future beyond survival.