Read more at source.
Read more at source.
Hsu, initially an active child, developed a knee pain that led to his osteosarcoma diagnosis. His parents, assuming it was a sports injury, were taken aback when they discovered it was bone cancer. The subsequent chemotherapy treatments raised concerns about Hsu's future fertility as sperm banking was not an option for him due to his prepubescent status.
In an attempt to address potential infertility, Hsu's parents enrolled him in a study that collected and stored his immature testicular tissue. This tissue contained precious sperm stem cells, which are present even before puberty. During puberty, these cells develop into sperm, a process known as spermatogenesis.
At age 24, Hsu underwent a groundbreaking transplant procedure that involved injecting his stored stem cells into one of his testes. The hope is that these cells will engraft into the tubules of the testis and develop into mature sperm. However, due to the small amount of tissue collected, Hsu may still require assistive reproductive technology to start a family.
As an 11-year-old, I don't think I could quite understand the severity of having a cancer diagnosis or comprehend the idea of starting a family down the road and how important that would be, Hsu tells WIRED.
