The ASK Clinic was launched at the end of 2017; it is the first follow-up clinic in Switzerland for adolescents and young adults affected by cancer focussing on the topics of body image, sexuality and fertility and it aims to close an important gap in care.
How did it come about?
For many years, Astrid Ahler worked as a fertility specialist at the University Hospital Basel and UKBB, advising cancer patients on creating fertility reserves and supporting them in the fertility clinic after their therapy. While the potential impact of cancer treatment on fertility is often mentioned, the topic is rarely systematically addressed during follow-up care. This sometimes leads to missed opportunities to freeze eggs or sperm after therapy.
Young cancer patients also face difficulties forming romantic and intimate relationships because illnesses and treatments alter their bodies. This is especially challenging during puberty, as it becomes harder to feel comfortable with these changes. Isolation from peers and a lack of opportunities for exchange amplify feelings of inadequacy. Despite the focus on the physical body during follow-up care, patients are rarely asked how it feels to live in their bodies.
Together with Tamara Diesch, Head of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology at UKBB, Astrid Ahler founded the ASK Clinic to provide holistic care for cancer patients.
But that’s not enough! Extending the justASKus project:
The initiative was well received, with most patients initially seeking advice on fertility. Many also had questions about body changes and navigating sexuality. However, the clinic got off to a slow start, and reaching cancer patients proved challenging. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, long travel distances to Basel or Olten posed significant barriers. It became clear that more was needed.
We developed an easily accessible platform providing information and opportunities for exchange to offer initial answers. A body-centered approach was especially important to help patients reconnect with their bodies and rebuild trust. This inspired the idea of offering workshops.
It also became evident that training healthcare professionals was essential to create more points of contact for discussing body image and sexuality during and after therapy.
In September 2021, the project received financial support from the Stiftung krebskranke Kinder, Regio Basiliensis. By December 2021, the justASKus association was founded with an interdisciplinary team and a survivor.