Livestrong Fertility Program Hits $50 Million Saved for Young Cancer Survivors | Livestrong
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Livestrong Fertility Program Hits $50 Million Saved for Young Cancer Survivors

Since 2004, the Livestrong Fertility program has helped more than 10,700 cancer patients and survivors save a total of more than $50 million through discounts on sperm banking, embryo freezing, egg freezing and in vitro fertilization.

KEY POINTS:

  • Since 2004, the Livestrong Fertility program has helped more than 10,700 cancer patients and survivors save a total of more than $50 million.
  • Each year 70,000 adolescent and young adult Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their reproductive years.
  • Fertility preservation is costly and almost never covered by insurance.
  • Livestrong Fertility is a unique program that helps men and women diagnosed with cancer during their reproductive years understand the risk to their fertility, and take steps to preserve their fertility before or after treatment.
  • Livestrong partners with over 670 fertility clinics and sperm banks around the US to provide discounts on sperm banking, embryo freezing, egg freezing and in vitro fertilization.
  • Livestrong also provides free stimulation medication for women through a partnership with EMD Serono.

AUSTIN, Texas – July 24, 2018 – The Livestrong Foundation today announced that its Livestrong Fertility program has served more than 10,700 cancer patients and survivors, saving them collectively a total of more than $50 million.

Each year 70,000 adolescent and young adult Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their reproductive years. For many, preserving the ability to have biological children before beginning treatment can be a heartbreaking struggle. Insurance providers frequently fail to cover expensive services like banking sperm or freezing eggs. Patients often face intense pressure to begin treatment right away, leaving little time to figure out their fertility preservation options. And tragically, patients are sometimes not informed about the potentially compromising effects of cancer treatment upon their fertility.

Livestrong Fertility, formerly known as Fertile Hope, has been helping cancer patients and survivors for more than 14 years. It is dedicated to providing reproductive information, resources and financial support to cancer patients and survivors whose cancer and/or its treatment present risks to their fertility. Young cancer survivors like Sarah, Eric and Wendy are among the more than 10,700 clients who have been helped by this program.

“With cancer survivorship expected to increase more than 35% over the next decade, the need for Livestrong Fertility grows substantially each year. We want to make sure all cancer patients are educated about potential risks to their fertility, and that fertility preservation is available to any cancer patient who wants the option, regardless of financial means or location.” said Livestrong President, Greg Lee. “We’re proud of the impact this program has had on the lives of so many young cancer survivors, but we know there are many more who need our support and we want to continue to be there when they need us.”

The continued growth of the program demonstrates the growing need for fertility information and access to affordable fertility preservation services for cancer survivors. To learn more about Livestrong Fertility or to apply for the Livestrong Fertility Discount Program, please visit www.livestrong.org/fertility.

About the Livestrong Foundation

The Livestrong Foundation fights to improve the lives of people affected by cancer now. For 21 years, Livestrong has been a voice for cancer survivors and has directly supported more than 8 million people. A pioneer in the field of survivorship, Livestrong remains a world leader in providing direct services to cancer patients and survivors, advocating for policies that enhance survivors’ quality of life and developing partnerships that create access to cancer programs across the country. Since 2007, the Livestrong at the YMCA program has made a return to fitness and wellbeing possible for more than 56,000 survivors in more than 690 YMCA locations across America. Working with The University of Texas’ Dell Medical School, Livestrong is building the Livestrong Cancer Institutes to reinvent and redesign cancer care for and with people affected by cancer. If anyone you know needs cancer support, please visit Livestrong.org/WeCanHelp. For more information about our programs and services, please visit Livestrong.org.

  • Press Contact: press@livestrong.org