Cancer Patients Freezing Eggs and Embryos

http://fertilitycenter-crete.gr/Photo/115_1.jpg

While at home during the three day weekend, I read an article (http://www.insidesocal.com/southbay/2011/04/rb-cancer-survivor-pushing-fer.html) in the local paper about a 31 year old woman, Alice Crisci, who spent $14,000 to freeze her eggs after finding out her breast cancer could affect her fertility. She is now trying to pass a petition that would extend health insurance coverage to all California residents to preserve their fertility prior to undergoing cancer treatment.

As you may or may not know, certain types of cancer treatments can affect fertility such as radiation and chemotherapy. These cancer treatments are developed with the knowledge that effective agents selectively target rapidly dividing cells such as ovarian cells, especially the eggs. For young patients such as Crisci, freezing eggs or embryos (if you have a sperm donor or male companion) is a good option. But this procedure can cost thousands, an amount of money many can’t afford. This is why Crisci hopes to pass this bill which would allow insurance to cover the expensive procedure for cancer patients who want children.



This has caused controversy for some, though, who do not want their health insurance to increase due to a person’s possible infertility. Requiring that health insurance companies cover fertility treatments would add to the cost for everyone. Though many would agree to pay for the treatment of breast cancer; to save a life, is paying for a person’s child too much? Do “quality of life” issues such as this one affect the majority of the population?


It brings up a larger question. Should there be limits on health care? Let us look at the example of a smoker and the non-smoker, the first weighing 170 pounds and the second weighing 400 pounds. They pay the same for health insurance. The person who chooses to smoke cigarettes or decides to eat to obesity by their choice spends more of everyone's healthcare dollars than the non-smoker or thin man. Is this okay that we are paying for the increased costs of protecting this person’s health?

If you feel that Alice Crisci’s bill should be passed, go to http://www.change.org/petitions/insurance-coverage-for-young-adult-cancer-patients-to-preserve-fertility to sign the petition to help her case.