Exploring the emotional impact of cancer and fertility
So you’ve just been told you’ve got cancer. And then you’re told your ability to have kids in the future might be impacted too. Because cancer’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Being told your fertility might impacted because of cancer treatment is a lot to take on board. Your age, the type of cancer you have, the stage and site of your cancer, as well as the treatment you have all affect how your fertility might be impacted. But you have options.
So you’ve just been told you’ve got cancer. And then you’re told your ability to have kids in the future might be impacted too. Because cancer’s the gift that keeps on giving.
First things first - the effect cancer treatment can have on your fertility varies widely depending on a lot of factors. These are your age, the type, stage and site of your cancer and the decisions you make during treatment.
It's often difficult to know how your fertility has been affected immediately after treatment. Research is constantly happening in this field and new techniques are being developed all the time.
How does cancer impact your fertility?
This is tricky to answer in a straightforward way. Many factors are at play, including your treatment, which parts of your body are affected by the cancer, your age and if you need ongoing treatment.
If you have ovaries, these can be impacted by certain types of chemo, radiotherapy and surgery and hormone treatment can damage your eggs, leading to early menopause. If you need to have treatment to your womb, this can also impact your fertility. Certain types of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can reduce or stop sperm production. Changes to your vagina and your ability to have an erection can also be impacted by treatment. All of this can be temporary, or in some cases it can be permanent.
What are my options?
In most cases, there are options to help you preserve your fertility, known as fertility preservation. You should be offered the opportunity to freeze your eggs or sperm if it's likely that your fertility will be impacted by your treatment and there’s time to have this treatment before you have surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or any other treatment.
I can't decide what to have for lunch, let alone what to do about my fertility...
Preach. It's a lot, especially if it's something you've never thought about before. You might not even feel ready to make this decision, especially in amongst everything else going on around your cancer diagnosis. There's a lot to consider, and this often must happen quickly before treatment starts. Prioritise talking to people you love and trust about your feelings and make sure you do what feels right for you.
I've already started or finished treatment. Is it too late?
Every situation is different and whether you're able to have children will depend on loads of different factors. If your fertility was never discussed, chat to your consultant, your GP or someone on your cancer care team to chat through any questions or concerns. You can have fertility tests after your treatment is finished so you know what you're dealing with. There are lots of brilliant organisations out there who support people with fertility issues, so know they've got your back. Check out the links below.
I'm dealing with gender dysphoria or talking about fertility is triggering for me - what do I do?
If you're part of the Queer community, talking about fertility can feel even more overwhelming. Our friends at Live Through This explain "The side effects of cancer treatments are often the same whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity. But as an LGBTQ+ person, you may have some specific questions about how these will affect your sex life or your fertility options. And some side effects may be more of a problem depending on the type of sex you have." You can read more of their info on Cancer Sex and Fertility here.
Sex and cancer. That feels like a whole other topic, right?
RIGHT. It's hard to talk about fertility and cancer without talking about sex and cancer. Your sex drive, your confidence, your body image and all sorts of other things can be hugely impacted by a cancer diagnosis, its treatments and the after effects. Check out our Lifting the Lid on Sex and Cancer for more info.
"I would have loved more advice on fertility and options surrounding that. I felt really rushed into making a fairly uneducated decision."
I'd love some more info...
Check out our fertility topics for more information:
Trekstock Talks - Fertility in men
Trekstock Talks - Thinking about fertility
Trekstock Talks - Cancer, sex and fertility
Trekstock Talks - Fertility myth busting
Other resources
Need support with menopause and its side effects because of cancer or treatment? We've got you.
Cancer and its treatments will undoubtedly cause many changes in your life. One change you might not have anticipated at the outset is going through the menopause early. Check out our tips for managing your menopause.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We wanted to share some resources which might be useful for those living life alongside Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Conversations around cancer aren't always easy. Whether you're talking to your pals, loved ones, partner or even your medical team, knowing how to deal with topics that might feel tricky can go a long way in helping you manage your relationships. Check out our top tips for having those difficult conversations.
Whether you're dating, in a serious relationship, having a bit of fun or committed to be together for the rest of your lives, when your partner's diagnosed with cancer it can bring some big challenges along. Suddenly you've both got a lot to deal with. Working out how to support each other, and yourselves, is key for moving forward.
Lifting the Lid aims to create a safe environment to delve into important topics, while letting our community of people living life alongside cancer know that there are experts on hand who understand their experiences. Check out the full library
.avif)
If you’re the parent of someone in our community with cancer, we know there’s not a lot of information out there to support you. We explore how you might be feeling, how you can help and how to take care of yourself in amongst it all.
When you’re in your 20s or 30s and you’re diagnosed with cancer, lots of things change. One of the things you’ve told us can be most difficult, is navigating friendships in life alongside cancer. We unpick the gnarly topic of friendship and cancer, offering tips and advice for managing your relationships.
Whether you love it or hate it, exercising beyond a cancer diagnosis can be hugely beneficial. We look at the things that might be stopping you from exercising and help unpick how to tackle them
Sean was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma when he was 28. At the time, he was a self-employed personal trainer and found that his cancer caused paralysing pain. Now, Sean is back on his fitness journey and has joined us as a RENEW trainer. He shares the story of his experience from patient to cancer exercise specialist with us.
What do you need to know about food and cancer? It's the wild, wild West out there, so we worked with some brill experts and friends to bring you everything you need to know. Our guide is a no-nonsense, evidence based guide designed with you in mind.
Navigating sex and cancer is a minefield. Whether you’re trying to do the deed after diagnosis, you’re living with cancer or you’re in the realms of that elusive new normal we hear so much about, the truth is, the whole thing can be, well...Tricky. Here's our tips on sex and cancer
Parenting is tough enough without adding cancer into the mix. While there's no single formula that can make parenting through cancer easy; there are some practical tools, strategies, resources and services that can help.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis in your 20s or 30s is hard enough. When you are from the LGBTQIA+ community there can be a number of issues you may face. One of these may be your sex life and sexual health. Stewart from LGBTQIA+ cancer support charity OUTpatients and experts share their tips and advice that can help you navigate sex after cancer.
Menopause is a common but not often discussed side effect of breast cancer treatment. Stacey didn't realise how much her menopausal symptoms were impacting her until she joined Trekstock's menopause programme.
.avif)
Lydia's cancer diagnosis when she was 24 meant she had to undergo a complete hysterectomy – having her uterus and cervix removed. As a result, she found herself facing the menopause. Here’s her story on how she’s reached an understanding with her symptoms.
Exercise and cancer don't seem like ideal partners. But the truth is they go together exceptionally well. Exercise has tonnes of benefits for those going through cancer treatment and living with any long term impacts. Exercise physiologist Tom Cowan explains the benefits of exercising with cancer and shares the best ways to make it work for you.
.jpg)
Living life alongside cancer when you’re in your 20s or 30s brings its own unique set of challenges. But we exist to help you make the most of the parallel lives you’re living as both patient and person. Here’s a rundown of everything we offer.
We're able to consume more content and information than ever before. A world of news, dating apps and online shopping is always just a few seconds away. But humans have not evolved to handle this kind of consumption. We're still in the process of figuring out what exactly it does to us. This year's Men's Mental Health Week is focusing on the internet and its impact on male mental health
There are loads of ways to nurture body confidence, even with cancer in the mix. We're here to support you every step of the way, providing resources to enhance both your physical and mental well-being. Together, we can help you embrace self-love and find a sense of comfort in your own skin, even in the face of cancer.
Finding out you might be infertile because of your cancer treatment can have a huge emotional impact. Even if kids are the last thing on your mind, making sense of having this decision taken away from you is important. If you’re experiencing fertility issues and it’s impacting your mental health, it’s OK. There are people and organisations out there designed to help.
Just because you've been diagnosed with cancer during your education doesn't mean you should be held back. Here's everything you need to know about living life alongside cancer and education
Tips for opening up about your health at work - from what your rights are to how to talk to your employer and what to do if you decide to stop working.
.webp)
Ambassador Carolina shares what the Trekstock community means to her and how she found support from people who'd been through cancer treatment at a young age.
Because navigating friendships in your 20s or 30s is hard enough without cancer.
No matter who you are, the physical changes that might occur because of cancer or its treatments can be really difficult. Whether you're dealing with nausea, hair loss, early menopause or anything else, learning how to manage these impacts is key to a better quality of life.
Cancer’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s OK to find it tough to cope.