Medical update for donor

[Anonymous]

We have a beautiful 6 month baby girl conceived with donor sperm. My husband has a condition where he doesn't produce sperm.

We just got an email update that the donor has Hodgkin's lymphoma. It says it's more common in males and nothing to do now but to let our pediatrician know.

We will. And I'll email the genetic counselor at our OB office but I already have postpartum anxiety and depression I'm being treated for and I'm having a hard time not spiralling.

I know we can only do what we can whatever comes and I know on the off chance it's genetic treatment looks good but just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar?

[Anonymous]

1/3 of people get cancer eventually. There is nothing you can do at this point. Every donor, and you yourself, have something imperfect in their genes. And if you had ruled out this donor you wouldn't have your wonderful baby. I hope your PPD/ppa treatment is successful.

[Anonymous]

I have inherited and passed down a predisposition to auto-immune disorders, OP. My mother has MS, I have Sjogren's and Grave's and my daughter has lupus. My son doesn't have anything (knock on wood), probably because autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in females.

Your child cannot escape their genetic heritage, OP. It doesn't mean she will develop that cancer! But it means she has a higher risk of carrying that predisposition and that her children might also be at higher risk. If it wasn't that lymphoma, it would have been something else. And there are tons of things you don't know about that have been handed down to her, both good and bad. She may inherit a high IQ! Qualities of patience and empathy. Maybe she has a mutation that protects her from Alzheimer's! Maybe she's less prone than others at developing high blood pressure. Genetic predisposition goes BOTH WAYS.

Enjoy your precious baby, OP. Mine are young adults and teens now. It only seems like yesterday that they were born. And I suffered from PPD after the birth of my first child. This too shall pass.

[Anonymous]

no tattoos and no true green use, control what you can
genetics for lymphoma are not a huge factor0does anyone else have it in his family or just him?

[Anonymous]

Lots of mental disorders are hereditary. They are seldom reported

[Anonymous]

The survival rate for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is very high.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/hodgkin-lymphoma/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

I have a genetic mutation that increases the likelihood of a number cancers (Lynch syndrome) so I know how scary this can be, but just because the donor dad has it doesn’t mean your DD will. At some point you might want to speak to a genetic counselor.

[Anonymous]

Hodgkins Lymphoma they believe is more linked to particular viral triggers more then genetics, so havung a genetic parent with it wouldn't really increase likelihood of developing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of people get cancer eventually. There is nothing you can do at this point. Every donor, and you yourself, have something imperfect in their genes. And if you had ruled out this donor you wouldn't have your wonderful baby. I hope your PPD/ppa treatment is successful.

Thank you. We feel the same way. We wouldn't change anything at all. It does feel like we can't use the remaining two embryos knowing this so that is something we will have to discuss and sit with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hodgkins Lymphoma they believe is more linked to particular viral triggers more then genetics, so havung a genetic parent with it wouldn't really increase likelihood of developing it.

Oh thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have inherited and passed down a predisposition to auto-immune disorders, OP. My mother has MS, I have Sjogren's and Grave's and my daughter has lupus. My son doesn't have anything (knock on wood), probably because autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in females.

Your child cannot escape their genetic heritage, OP. It doesn't mean she will develop that cancer! But it means she has a higher risk of carrying that predisposition and that her children might also be at higher risk. If it wasn't that lymphoma, it would have been something else. And there are tons of things you don't know about that have been handed down to her, both good and bad. She may inherit a high IQ! Qualities of patience and empathy. Maybe she has a mutation that protects her from Alzheimer's! Maybe she's less prone than others at developing high blood pressure. Genetic predisposition goes BOTH WAYS.

Enjoy your precious baby, OP. Mine are young adults and teens now. It only seems like yesterday that they were born. And I suffered from PPD after the birth of my first child. This too shall pass.

Thank you so much. Your words are very comforting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of people get cancer eventually. There is nothing you can do at this point. Every donor, and you yourself, have something imperfect in their genes. And if you had ruled out this donor you wouldn't have your wonderful baby. I hope your PPD/ppa treatment is successful.

Thank you. We feel the same way. We wouldn't change anything at all. It does feel like we can't use the remaining two embryos knowing this so that is something we will have to discuss and sit with

This conclusion does not follow at all, in my mind. Did you think you were getting flawless human germ cells with this sperm donor? Something will go wrong with absolutely everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1/3 of people get cancer eventually. There is nothing you can do at this point. Every donor, and you yourself, have something imperfect in their genes. And if you had ruled out this donor you wouldn't have your wonderful baby. I hope your PPD/ppa treatment is successful.

Thank you. We feel the same way. We wouldn't change anything at all. It does feel like we can't use the remaining two embryos knowing this so that is something we will have to discuss and sit with

This conclusion does not follow at all, in my mind. Did you think you were getting flawless human germ cells with this sperm donor? Something will go wrong with absolutely everyone.

No not at all. It's more the knowing beforehand. And the wording on the email from Fairfax. They are advising a return of any leftover vials for a refund and placed the profile as restricted. It feels overwhelming. I know things will pop up even on my side. I don't know my family history all that well and I'm still fairly young and certain diseases haven't had time to pop up.

[Anonymous]

Does this information arise when a half sibling grows up and presents with the disease?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this information arise when a half sibling grows up and presents with the disease?

The donor self reported to the bank and they notified anyone which purchased vials.

[Anonymous]

If you otherwise would have used the vials and you would like to have genetically related children (or if you think it's unlikely you'd get other embryos, or if you can't afford to go through fertility treatment again, etc.) you could talk with a genetic counselor before deciding what to do.