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Does chemotherapy have any effect on sexual life?

Dr Dinesh Doval
Department of Medical Oncology,
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre,
Delhi

Q: My son was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, stage I in the tibia bone of his right leg, when he was 11 years old. During his treatment, he was given 4 doses of chemotherapy and then the affected bone was cut off and grafting was done using bone from his left leg (fibula). After this 12 doses of chemotherapy were given to him again. He is perfectly normal now, with a slight defect in his right leg. He cannot walk for long but he can swim. Now he is a full grown adult of 19 years. Can he have a normal sex life? Will his sexual life be affected due to the strong drugs injected into him during his puberty?

A:Chemotherapy can definitely produce infertility and the male gender might develop azoospemia so it best to go for semen examination and sperm count that will answer regarding the problem.