Having breast cancer at 34 means that I will likely need chemotherapy. The Oncologist wants to start in treatment in early August. Chemotherapy could wipe out some or even all of my eggs. After Chemotherapy, I will need to be on a drug called Tamoxifen for 5 years. While on Tamoxifen, pregnancy is not recommended. This means if I wanted to have a baby after breast cancer, I would be pushing 40, with slim to no chance of having any eggs left.
This makes me a great candidate for trying to extract and freeze my nice healthy 34-year old eggs now. Since I am married, and they have better results with frozen fertilized embryos, why not take it a step further and go for a bunch of frozen embryos?
I met with Dr. Widra at Shady Grove Fertility Clinic on Thursday to discuss my predicament. He agreed that I am the perfect candidate for embryo cryopreservation, but we would need to act fast. I had blood drawn the same day and went home with a giant stack of information, a bunch of prescriptions, and a test kit with needles so that Jim can practice giving me shots in the stomach.
I floated home in the twilight zone that is my current life and set off to see my plastic surgeon to have the extenders in my chest filled with more saline.
PS. In case anyone is wondering, I am going to a young women’s breast cancer support group this Wednesday. It does seem like this house of cards could come crashing down soon, but I really am hanging in there.
Dear Allie, your thoughts are just so clear and present. And so “up” for what you are going through. Talk about sharing hope and strength, and experience. You are having to grow up almost overnight… and I mean it in terms of experiencing something that only older women are supposed to. So now you become a prophet to people who maybe are not grateful for their lives at the moment. It is a wake up call for any who read your words. You are sharing the most intimate and scary parts of your life. You use every word carefully and are facing everything with such bravado and humor. Keep sharing because if it is helping you, it is helping others far more. You write like a pro. Love, Robin.
And you should by all means freeze the embryos. You were the cutest baby… like one of those adorable dolls with the biggest brown eyes I have ever seen. And little straight bangs. God you are cute. I still see it. So yes yes yes, do it. Modern technology blows me away. But more importantly, you are walking bravely into so many things. A life can change in an instant. I am trying to relish mine again. Thank you for helping me get there Allie. xo
I meant, God you were cute… now you are just plain beautiful… inside and out. more later. Keep writing.
Thanks Rob. Love you!
Isn’t Shady Grove where Snoopy came from? Wait, no, that was Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. Still, it makes me think of Snoopy, who makes me feel good, so Shady Grove must be a good place, too. 😉
I know it must be surreal trying to make life-altering decisions like these, but I know your amazing heart and intuition, along with the love of Jim and the rest of your family and friends will help guide you to a place that feels right. I continue to pray for your strength of body, mind, and soul, and know you will someday stand on the other side of this darkness and marvel at your own fortitude.
I happen to be an expert in the shots in the belly area – so if Jim, or you, need any support or help or advice you know I’m here!
As a little kid, when I was learning to give myself injections, I practiced on a grapefruit – doctor recommendation – which made it kind of fun for some odd reason. I’m sure doctors have new advice now… after all, this was almost 30 years ago… but if Jim or you want to try something different – grab a big pink grapefruit and give it some shots 🙂
Stay strong Alison!
Hobbs, I actually thought of you for help with this in case we can’t figure it out! Thanks. 🙂