Fertility Post Chemo

beachbound009

My husband and I started trying to have a family in 2010 and was unsuccessful.  I was so frustrated but then I was diagnosed with TNBC in 9/2011 and I felt like God made sure I wasn’t pregnant because he knew I would have to battle the cancer.  I went through ACT chemo resulting in a complete pathologic response.  Following chemo, I had a bilateral mx with reconstruction in 2/2012.  I recovered and got back to my life.  Fast forward to 1/2013 at my check up with my MO:  the PA found a small lump (about the size of a pencil eraser 10mm) on my breast (it looked like a mosquito bite).  To make a long story a little shorter, I had a MRI which produced negative results and my MO gave me the OK to start trying again.  He said we would keep an eye on this bump and if anything changed, I should come back but he thought it was a calcium deposit from my mx and nothing to worry about.  So, we gladly started trying again.  When I returned for my check up in May, the bump had grown so it was now time to remove it and figure out what it is.  Sure enough, it was TNBC.  I had a local recurrence via a skin met on my mx breast.  I’ve completed radiation and am about to start chemo again.  My MO has referred me to a fertility specialist to have my eggs frozen, as he doesn’t think they will be viable following another chemo treatment.  I’m 32 years old and feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me.  All my life, I wanted to be a mom and now, the way I have to go about it, seems so unnatural to me.  I’m curious if others have dealt with this issue and how they are working through it or have already worked through it.  I’m far more upset about this than I am about doing more chemo. 

Thank you for any and all input.

Luah

beachbound: I was older when diagnosed so didn't deal with that problem. But I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to you. It seems so unfair to face cancer at such a young age. Freezing eggs may seem unnatural, but if it later leads to motherhood... well that seems like a huge blessing. I wish you well.