At Roswell Park, we’re committed to the care of the whole person. Our work doesn’t begin or end at medical treatment. It encompasses the full spectrum of mental, emotional and spiritual wellness for our patients, as well. When you support Roswell Park, you’re making it possible for experts to run Quality-of-Life Programs that bring opportunities to our patients that provide hope, access and deep compassion.
The Fertility Preservation Program is just one program available to young adult patients. Some cancer treatments, while critical to rid a patient of their disease, can negatively affect their fertility. Around 400 young adults are diagnosed with cancer at Roswell Park every year. At the dedicated OncoFertility Clinic, experts help counsel patients on their fertility risks, assist with fertility preservation options and discuss medical management of menses during cancer treatment.
Approximately 45% of those patients do not have insurance coverage for that care, however. Through Quality-of-Life Program funding, Roswell Park is able to use donor funds to help those patients navigate their fertility preservation options.
Meghan's Story
Meghan Romanos was one of those patients. Through the careful monitoring of an autoimmune disorder Meghan has, her doctors were able to identify what’s commonly called smoldering myeloma. That brought her to Roswell Park so experts could help her to manage and monitor the condition which ultimately turns into multiple myeloma for most patients.
As a young woman who was hoping to one day raise a family, her Roswell Park care team informed her that experiencing pregnancy could put her body at much higher risk of developing this blood cancer. Because she came to Roswell Park for her care, Meghan was able to take full advantage of the donor-funded Fertility Preservation Program, providing her with financial assistance to go through with IVF.
Now, after a wonderful experience with surrogacy, Meghan and her husband Cody are parents to their 1-year-old son Cayden. They couldn’t be more in love with their little boy and said they have Roswell Park donors and the comprehensive care available to thank.
“This program made our little family,” Meghan said. “Cayden wouldn’t be here without it. It’s amazing to know there are people out there who are willing to help you build your family. This wouldn’t have happened without these donors.”
“I can’t say that we would have been able to do this without Roswell Park’s help,” Cody said. “Our lives would look and feel completely different if it wasn’t for the recommendation and the assistance to do this.”
Meghan’s story is just one example of the thousands of patients, caregivers, survivors and loved ones who are feeling the impact of your donations through Quality-of-Life Programs at Roswell Park. Your generosity makes their lives a little bit better, their days just that much brighter, their moments more filled with hope.
Editor’s Note: Cancer patient outcomes and experiences may vary, even for those with the same type of cancer. An individual patient’s story should not be used as a prediction of how another patient will respond to treatment. Roswell Park is transparent about the survival rates of our patients as compared to national standards, and provides this information, when available, within the cancer type sections of this website.
