Don’t let cancer treatment take away your option to have a family — Emily’s story

I was diagnosed with stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year when I was 27 years old. I was in the best shape of my life at the time and thought I was the healthiest I had ever been, but boy was I wrong.

After noticing a swollen lymph node on my neck, I went to see my doctor. That led to a series of other appointments and diagnostics. Hearing that I had been diagnosed with cancer was a total shock.

I was worried about my fertility with the aggressive type of chemo I was assigned and possible need for radiation, so I decided it best to freeze my eggs just to be safe. Much like all of my other medical expenses, egg freezing was going to cost an arm and a leg, but Livestrong helped cover a large amount of the cost and I am very thankful for their help.

As of October 13th, I am officially in remission and I am finally beginning to feel like my normal self again. I am thankful for every day.

Emily — Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor as soon as possible about the risks to your fertility. Visit our website at Livestrong.org/Fertility or call 855.220.7777 to find out how LIVESTRONG can help.

Don’t let cancer treatment take away your option to have a family — Emily’s story was originally published in Livestrong Voices on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.