Cancer 2026

As cancer survival rates among adolescents and young adults improve, fertility has emerged as a critical quality-of-life outcome, with infertility impacting 12-88% of survivors following at-risk therapy. ASCO, ASRM, and ACOG suggest that treatment-related gonadotoxicity be discussed immediately and referred to a reproductive specialist. This study assessed whether the reproductive needs of young cancer patients in actual oncology practice are met by current fertility preservation recommendations. Using database searches and reference screening, a narrative synthesis of significant guideline documents and peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2026 was carried out, with an emphasis on counselling and referral rates, preservation uptake, costs, and patient-reported reproductive needs.Implementation is still insufficient despite extensive recommendations. Approximately 30-50% of patients receive insufficient information regarding infertility concerns prior to treatment, with just 43.5% of over 7,000 patients having documented pre-treatment consultations. About 50% of women are still unaware of infertility caused by therapy. Only 58% of oncology clinicians explain infertility issues on a consistent basis, and 62% refer patients when appropriate, despite the fact that the majority lack formal training. Community practices generally lack fertility preservation facilities, and oocyte or embryo banking costs $10,000-15,000, exacerbating financial difficulties and perpetuating social gaps. While over 80% of young patients want children in the future, more than 75% suffer from reproductive discomfort, and unfulfilled information demands lead to conflict when making decisions. Therefore, current recommendations address patients' reproductive requirements in terms of design but not delivery.To close this implementation gap, standardised referral pathways, provider education, financial coverage, and context-appropriate oncofertility services are required, particularly in resource-limited settings. These actions could promote survivorship-focused cancer care for young people globally and provide fair access to fertility preservation.

Ahamed Zahid is a final-year MBBS student at Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova. He is a Research enthusiast whose undergraduate thesis on the “Latest Developments in Acne Treatment” in Dermatology was selected and published as a poster presentation at the BIMCO Conference 2026,EADV Conference 2026, MEIDAM 2026 Dubai, Reseatch fusion 2026 Singapore, a SURGhub Ambassador, and an active member of The Operation Room Global. His clinical interests include surgery, emergency care, dermatology and gastroenterology. Alongside his medical degree, he is gaining hands-on experience and developing skills in dental surgery and implantology through active clinical assistance. Beyond his academic and clinical training, he is actively engaged in medical content creation, academic collaboration, and educational speaking engagements, contributing to knowledge sharing within the healthcare and student communities. He is also engaged in ongoing research in cardiology and endocrinology.