Childhood Cancer Fertility Project
Each year in Ireland around 200 children are diagnosed with cancer, the treatments for which can cause lifelong damage to fertility, seriously impacting their future chances of ever starting a family of their own.
A new partnership between the Irish Cancer Society and Merrion Fertility Clinic aims to ensure that, where possible, lifesaving treatment for children does not come at the cost of their future dreams of parenthood.
The three-year project aims to develop new supports and services across a number of phases to address a current significant gap in care and improve the long-term quality of life for children with cancer in Ireland.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project will develop cutting-edge methods to preserve fertility for certain children who do not have access to such a service here.
More than 4 in 5 children now survive their cancer diagnosis, and it is known that having the ability to start their own family is incredibly important to survivors in later life. Ireland currently lags behind the UK and other European countries in fertility services for children, adolescents and young adults who go through cancer despite this increasing need, leaving some families resorting to travelling abroad for help amid the stress of cancer treatment, with others receiving no help at all.
The Childhood Cancer Fertility Project looks at life beyond treatment for these groups, ensuring that where possible survivors are given the precious opportunity of having their own family in future.
The project will offer supports and services to three main groups:
- Adolescents under 18 years of age about to undergo cancer treatment likely to affect fertility will be offered access to an enhanced fertility preservation service operated by Merrion Fertility Clinic. Anyone over this age who is interested in accessing fertility preservation services is asked to contact SIMS IVF in Swords for further information: www.sims.ie/fertility-clinics/swords-clinic-north-dublin
- Female survivors of childhood cancers from 18 years to those aged under 27 years will be invited to have their fertility needs assessed, and referred for further treatment or investigation where fertility treatments may still be an option.
- Children who have yet to reach adolescence will benefit from the development of ground-breaking fertility preservation methods previously not available in this country.
The three-year project aims to assist hundreds of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors entirely free of cost to the user, in what is designed to provide a forerunner for a new national fertility preservation programme for these groups.
The result of a €420,000 investment from the Irish Cancer Society as part of its commitment to improving the lives of cancer survivors, the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project will bring together top international expertise to deliver a world-class service that caters for a basic yet essential need among our cancer community.
The project is supported by the National Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Fertility Preservation Consortium comprising the Irish Cancer Society, Merrion Fertility Clinic, the National Maternity Hospital, and Children’s Health Ireland, with further support provided by the National Cancer Control Programme.
Over its three-year lifetime, the project will eventually lead to a number of benefits and improvements for patients and survivors, including:
- A structured fertility health service for children, adolescent and young adult cancer patients headed by Merrion Fertility Clinic that will make it possible for patients to be routinely referred for the assistance they need in a timely manner
- Access to fertility testing and tailored counselling to help patients and their families understand and explore the options that are available to them
- Addressing an identified gap in knowledge and resources for healthcare professionals by empowering them to inform their patients about fertility options open to them, and refer them to an appropriate service.
The Childhood Cancer Fertility Project responds to the requirements of cancer patients/survivors as well as healthcare professionals, fulfilling an unmet need for clear information and access to tailored fertility services.
It represents an important step forward in delivering a new service that can provide life-changing opportunities for future parenthood never before available to these groups in this country, in what is hoped will be a catalyst for the eventual foundation of a comprehensive new national fertility preservation programme for Ireland.
Progress Update: Childhood Cancer Fertility Project
Read September 2021's progress update on this project, from Helen Groarke and Dr Lucia Hartigan from Merrion Fertility Clinic.
Call our Irish Cancer Society's Support Line on 1800 200 700 during work hours to find out more about the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project.
"I was bawling crying when I found out I was eligible for the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project.'"
Dr Lucia Hartigan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Dr Lucia Hartigan is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Merrion Fertility Clinic and the National Maternity Hospital. Dr Hartigan graduated with honours from University College Dublin in 2010 and completed her Specialist Training in Ireland. She joined Merrion Fertility Clinic in 2017 and completed a two-year clinical research fellowship on oocyte biology and fertility preservation. Dr Hartigan’s primary focus is on Fertility Preservation for adolescents and young adults pre- and post-cancer treatment, and her research helped lay the groundwork for the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project.
Cara McCaul, Fertility Nurse
Cara is a Fertility Nurse and the liaison nurse between Children’s Health Ireland (Crumlin) and Merrion Fertility Clinic. She trained in University College Dublin and has previously worked as a General Nurse in the Mater University Hospital. Cara has been working in assisted reproduction since May 2022 and she has a specific interest in fertility preservation for children and young adolescents diagnosed with cancer. Cara has experience in caring for patients with gynaecological cancer and has a diploma in Women’s Health from the Royal College of Physicians Ireland. Cara is passionate about promoting awareness surrounding fertility preservation for those who have conditions which may affect future fertility.
Dr Venita Broderick, Consultant Gynaecologist
Dr Broderick is a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin. She was awarded a Richard Steevens scholarship to pursue her fellowship training in Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. She runs an adolescent gynaecology service at the National Maternity Hospital. Dr Broderick works closely with colleagues at Merrion Fertility Clinic and forms part of the multidisciplinary team who manage CAYA patients referred from CHI for fertility preservation. She is a member of the NCCP CAYA Fertility Preservation group.
Dr Maebh Horan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Dr Maebh Horan is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Merrion Fertility Clinic and the National Maternity Hospital. She completed a Clinical Fellowship and Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in fertility and reproductive medicine with Professor Mary Wingfield and University College Dublin. Dr Horan’s doctorate focused on developing fertility preservation services for children and young people with cancer and establishing criteria for patients and healthcare providers to help identify those young people most at risk of fertility loss after cancer treatment.
Dr David Crosby, Clinical Director
Dr David Crosby is a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital and Clinical Director of Merrion Fertility Clinic. He has overall clinical responsibility for the project, managing a highly skilled team of doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers at Merrion Fertility Clinic. Dr Crosby is the Clinical Lead of the Ireland East Regional Fertility Hub and Clinical Lecturer and Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, and has a special interest in Reproductive Medicine, Surgery & Genetics.
Dr Renato Bauman, Clinical Lead
Dr Renato Bauman joined Merrion Fertility Clinic in June 2022 as Clinical Lead. He is part of the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Clinical Director and Chief Operating Officer. Dr Bauman brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the project, having previously presided over the adult onco-fertility preservation program in SIMS IVF. He provides clinical care at Consultant level for patients of Merrion Fertility Clinic and strives to ensure that all patients attending the Clinic receive the best of care and attention.
Eileen Barrett, Director of Nursing Services
Eileen joined Merrion Fertility Clinic in January 1999 shortly after its inception and has gained a vast amount of knowledge in the broad area of Reproductive Medicine. She instigated setting up Ireland’s only Ultrasound Scanning Course for fertility nurses in UCD and has worked with the UCD School of Medicine to develop the syllabus for this course. She lectures on Fertility Management to the RCSI students at the National Maternity Hospital. She is a member of the Steering Committee of Sharing Best Practice, an annual meeting for fertility nurses in Ireland and has frequently presented at this meeting. Eileen has been involved with the Childhood Cancer Fertility project since its introduction to MFC in 2020.
Professor Mary Wingfield, Research and Policy Advisor
Professor Mary Wingfield is the former Clinical Director of Merrion Fertility Clinic and original Clinical Lead for the Childhood Cancer Fertility Project. She continues to be a strong advocate for the introduction of publicly funded assisted reproduction treatments, including fertility preservation for young people affected by cancer. Prof Wingfield is Chair of the Fertility Preservation Subgroup of the NCCP Clinical Programme for Children and Adolescent/Young Adults (AYA) with cancer.
More information about childhood cancers
Infertility after childhood cancer
After treatment for children’s cancer
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700
