I am looking for a respectable, expert answer from your resources regarding this kind of situation. At a trying period like this, a reply from your staff would greatly ease my family's worries. Both radiation and chemotherapy can cause azospermia. Low doses of radiation directed at the testes will cause azospermia and for this reason radiation oncologists take great care to protect the testes from receiving any dose. It is rare that the testes are involved with lymphoma and, therefore, the they can be covered with a lead shield that usually successfully protects the sperm producing cells.
Chemotherapy can also cause sterility.
Today, other chemotherapy agents which do not cause sterility and are often recommended in patients who have a desire to remain fertile. The use of these new chemotherapy agents and careful radiotherapy techniques have greatly reduced the rate of sterility in patients treated for Hodgkin's Disease. Unfortunately, this new treatment may be too late to help your brother. The information provided through OncoLink should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care.