Navigating A Cancer Diagnosis and What It Means for Fertility

Grief and Loss

Typically, when we think about grief we automatically think of death. However, grief can occur for the loss of a dream too. Infertility due to cancer is one of those losses. Not only are you experiencing the loss of your health, but also the loss of the potential family you might have hoped and dreamed about.

Anger and Regret

You may be angry if the risk of impact on your fertility was not discussed during your treatment and care planning. Maybe you regret never having the opportunity to learn about options like postponing treatment to preserve fertility. Maybe you were a child when diagnosed and your parents or guardians made the decision not to preserve your fertility.

Fear

For those whose treatment could cause infertility, you may now be thinking about fertility preservation options. It’s common to be fearful about potentially missing your chance to have a family in the future. But it’s also common to be afraid of losing valuable time in your own cancer fight. There is no “right” thing to do when it comes to this.

Seek Help

Open communication with medical professionals, friends and peers, support groups and counselors is crucial when going through this experience. It is important to surround yourself with a strong support system as you decide your best course of action. You don’t have to face your feelings alone. Visit livestrong.org