Fort Good Hope resident Chloe Dixon, aged 12, received a diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, last summer. In discussions with her family regarding treatment options, doctors introduced a new procedure that could potentially preserve Chloe’s fertility for future childbearing. Chloe expressed initial surprise upon learning about the program but ultimately saw it as a safe choice.
Cancer treatments often pose a risk to a patient’s fertility. A collaboration between The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Mount Sinai Fertility Clinic in Ontario is offering pediatric patients like Chloe the opportunity to safeguard their reproductive potential through ovarian tissue cryopreservation. This process involves removing and freezing one ovary for potential re-implantation in the future.
Chloe has been undergoing multiple surgeries and chemotherapy at SickKids in Toronto since her diagnosis. Dr. Kriti Kumar, a pediatric oncologist at SickKids, co-heads the fertility preservation program, emphasizing the importance of providing patients with choices for their reproductive autonomy in the face of potentially fertility-harming treatments.
While adult patients can freeze mature eggs, this option is not viable for children. Dr. Kumar explained that individuals born with ovaries have a limited number of eggs that naturally decline over time. Cancer treatments can accelerate this decline, potentially leading to early menopause in young patients.
Discussions about tissue preservation typically occur soon after a cancer diagnosis to ensure patients and their families have sufficient time to consider their options. The SickKids program has seen fewer than 20 pediatric patients undergo the procedure, with no instances of tissue reimplantation yet due to the program’s recent inception.
As survival rates for pediatric cancer improve, healthcare providers are increasingly focusing on enhancing post-cancer quality of life for patients. Chloe’s father, Paul Dixon, expressed gratitude for the option of fertility preservation presented to their family amid the overwhelming information surrounding Chloe’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
Chloe underwent the tissue preservation procedure in August 2025 and remains optimistic about her future fertility prospects while currently undergoing chemotherapy maintenance. The Dixon family is hopeful that Chloe will lead a fulfilling life post-treatment, similar to any other child not affected by cancer.
