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Lisa A. Lacasse: Cancer patients should have the right to preserve fertility prior to initiating cancer treatment.

Lisa A. Lacasse/X

Jan 12, 2025, 16:31

Lisa A. Lacasse: Cancer patients should have the right to preserve fertility prior to initiating cancer treatment.

Lisa A. Lacasse shared a post by Arif Kamal, on LinkedIn:

“We must do better! Proud to partner with Arif Kamal and increase American Cancer Society impact on this critical issue through American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) legislative agenda.

The data is clear. Cancer patients should have the right to preserve fertility prior to initiating cancer treatment. More than 60,000 young adults aged 20-39 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US.

Treatments for many of the younger adults may directly impact their ability to conceive children. For this population, fertility preservation becomes an important medical consideration. Approximately 5%-6% of the population in childbearing age consists of cancer survivors. Experts recommend freezing fertilized embryos for fertility preservation.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), currently supports state policies to expand insurance coverage of fertility preservation services for cancer patients.”

Quoting Arif Kamal‘s post:

“A recent study survived young cancer survivors and found that only half – 50% – recalled being asked about fertility preservation.

That’s eye opening considering that more people under the age of 50 are experiencing a cancer diagnosis than ever before.

At the American Cancer Society we recently launched a Young Adult fund to help offset the myriad of financial stresses young survivors face, including fertility-preserving interventions.

I recently shared with the Washington Post my thoughts on how this statistic must improve in the ever-changing face of who cancer is affecting.”

Lisa A. Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), has an impactful leadership in healthcare advocacy. Leading ACS CAN’s nationwide public policy advocacy agenda with her oversight of a dedicated team in Washington, D.C., she ensures effective advocacy efforts at the highest levels. Beyond her role at ACS CAN, Lacasse’s commitment to public health extends to serving on the board for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Arif Kamal is the first-ever Chief Patient Officer for the American Cancer Society and drives efforts to advance cancer care. With experience at Duke University and the Duke Cancer Institute, he is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Population Health. He is also a Co-Founder of Prepped Health, a Fellow of American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) and an Advisor at Acclivity Health Solutions. Dr. Kamal’s expertise lies in oncology quality assessment, palliative care, and innovative technology solutions for patient engagement.