Men who expect to one day become fathers may have serious decisions to make if they are diagnosed with cancer, as many types of treatment options can leave a cancer patient infertile.

How quickly does the process of infertility happen?  Some researchers say that within a week of undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, a male’s infertility can be seriously — or entirely — compromised.

The phenomenon isn’t limited to testicular cancer, either, because it’s not where the cancer strikes that’s at issue; it’s what kind of remedy is chosen to eradicate (or slow) the cancer cells.

Though men who have been diagnosed as having cancer are usually not considering future concerns such as whether they can have children, it may be worth investigating options, such as the freezing of healthy sperm pre-treatment. 

Cyclist Lance Armstrong did before he underwent treatment to deal with his cancer, and other men around the world have done so, too.

Certainly, the foremost goal is to attack the cancer.  But it’s worth thinking long-term, too.