“A Light of Hope”— Marisol’s Fertility Story | Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In 2021 at the age of 34, I was diagnosed with HR+ breast cancer. I had to advocate for myself in order to get a mammogram, as at my initial appointment 7 months prior, my doctor dismissed my concerns advising that she did not feel any lumps and that I was too young for anything suspicious.
I immediately had to start treatments, but I knew I couldn’t do it without first going through fertility preservation as I knew I wanted to start a family someday. I’ve always looked forward to the day I’d become a mother, so the news of my diagnosis was quite devastating to hear without being well informed on how it may affect my fertility.
Livestrong came clutch to my rescue and eased the fertility preservation process. In the midst of all the chaos, the financial burden of my fertility preservation felt very overwhelming. I’ll be forever thankful to Livestrong for taking that burden off me, for facilitating and expediting the process, and allowing me the chance to grow my family someday.
Although cancer took away a lot from me, it also gave me so much more to cherish and appreciate in life. Chemo, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, all the doctor’s appointments and scans etc., there’s no doubt that it was all very tough. But the fact of the matter is that I was blessed with having the option of being treated because of all the wonderful programs and donations given to the ongoing research teams that are continuously working on advancing treatments.
There are so many survivor stories out there which was what fueled me to keep fighting towards the finish line, and I feel so proud of myself and all of us who have fought the fight, or are still fighting, to be here today.
Thank you, Livestrong, for giving us all a shot at life, a light of hope through the darkest of days.
About Livestrong Fertility
Livestrong offers discounted fertility services and free fertility medications to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. Learn more at livestrong.org/fertility.
“A Light of Hope”— Marisol’s Fertility Story | Breast Cancer Awareness Month was originally published in Livestrong Voices on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
