Fertility preservation in the management of gynecologic cancers

Quality of life has become a very important issue in deciding the extent of surgical procedures for patients affected with a variety of cancers. For i nstance, in recent years more attention has been given to preserving organ function (eg, limb-preserving surgery in melanoma), cosmesis (eg, in breast cancer), and now reproductive function. Indeed, as cancer treatment has im proved the rate of survival associated with several neoplasias, cancer surv ivors are more and more interested in preserving fertility potential. This article focuses on new and innovative techniques or approaches to treat gyn ecologic cancers while minimizing the negative fertility effects of cancer treatment. In particular, the radical trachelectomy procedure in cervical c ancer, hormonal treatment of early endometrial cancer, conservative surgica l management of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer, and novel assisted r eproductive technologies for women with impaired ovarian function after can cer treatment are discussed. Curr Opin Oncol 2000. 12:497-507 (C) 2000 Lipp incott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.