Becki McGuinness was left infertile by aggressive cancer treatment when she was just 23-years-old. Now 30, she's launching a national campaign to ensure women facing cancer are given all the fertility options she should have had. This is her story...
"I was 21 when I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer in my sacrum and spine. Because the cancer was so aggressive, and located around my pelvis, I knew there was a chance my fertility could be affected by treatment. But doctors explained to my mum and I what treatment I'd be having and told us there were no other options for my condition. We took them at their word.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
I went into treatment believing there was no other option, knowing there was a chance I might come out infertile, but also being advised that infertility "doesn't happen to everyone" as a result. I had six months of chemotherapy, with all the stereotypical side effects like my hair falling out, and then six weeks of daily radiotherapy.
"I was 23 when the test came back showing that I was infertile"
It was during radiotherapy that my early menopause began; my periods became infrequent and I started getting really bad hot flushes. I'd be on the bus, or at social events, just sweating and sweating and no one knew why. Initially, we didn't know if it was a temporary or permanent menopause so I still had some hope but I was put on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to tackle the symptoms.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
When my periods didn't come back after treatment, I was referred to the Reproductive Medicine Unit, who did a blood test to check my hormone levels. I was 23 when the test came back showing that I was infertile.
Raisone Photography
As if it wasnt enough to come to terms with the fact Id never have biological children of my own, a gynaecologist later told me they could have saved my fertility by freezing eggs or embryos before treatment. I was devastated. If the oncologists had told me there was enough time, even if I'd had to go private, I would have found a way. But that choice was taken away from me.
As hard as the cancer treatment was, losing my fertility was the hardest thing
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
For me, it's a pro-choice issue. If you know you don't want kids, you're not going to mind going straight to treatment. But if you do want to try to preserve your fertility first then, as long as there's time, that choice should be there. I've even spoken to women whose parents advised them to do freeze their eggs anyway, in case they changed their mind later in life, and they're so glad now that they have the choice about whether to use those eggs or not. Even if you never go on to have kids, at least you've got that safety net. Once it's taken away, you can't go back.
The more I researched it, and spoke to other cancer patients, the more I realised my case wasn't just a sad one-off; it was happening to lots of women. And there was no information or support out there specifically focused on cancer and fertility.
Keen to do something about the situation, I launched Cancer and Fertility UK to be a place online that's by patients, for patients, to share their experiences positive and negative and to discuss the information and options.
Carine Bea Photography
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
I've got no eggs to save anymore, and I feel like that loss was just hushed away. For me personally, as hard as the cancer treatment was, losing my fertility was the hardest thing. If anything, it felt worse than the cancer. My fertility was something that was ingrained in me, that I wanted, and it was so hard to see that taken away.
I don't feel like the same person anymore. My friends are now all at an age where they're having babies, and I feel like I'm grieving for the life I could have had. That's just as hard as grieving for the child you could have had, because it changes everything.
Carine Bea Photography
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Looking forward forward, I don't know exactly what the future will hold. I worry about relationships, that a man might never want to be with me because I'm infertile. But at the moment I think it would be physically too difficult for me to start a family anyway, because of the ongoing health problems I have as a result of cancer. There are options I'd consider though, like surrogacy or adoption. They're not right for everyone, but I want to make sure women know they still have a choice, even if their fertility's been taken away from them.
Its a hard lesson that Ive learnt. You could be in remission for 50 years and, despite surviving a life-threatening condition, its still possible to feel depressed about any of cancers repercussions. The loss of your fertility, an inability to work, or anything else.
Cancer doesnt just stop overnight; its effects can stay with you for the rest of your life."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Read the original post:
What it's like to be left infertile by cancer at the age of 23 - cosmopolitan.com (UK)
- Bio Identical Hormone replacement therapy "alternative medicine" OMT [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2010]
- Healthbeat - Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Does Hormone Replacement Therapy increase breast cancer risks? [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Hormone replacement therapy increases risk of cancer [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2010]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy Risky For Women [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2010]
- Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Lead To Breast Cancer? [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2011]
- Women Turning To Holistic Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2011]
- Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Dangerous? [Last Updated On: March 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: March 17th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy Complications [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: May 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 10th, 2011]
- The New Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy - John Crisler, DO [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2011]
- Suzanne Somers on hormone therapy for menopause, part 2 of 6 [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Symptoms of Menopause (Menopause #2) [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- How to Relieve Menopause Symptoms : Hormonal Replacement Therapy for Menopause [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- What is hormone replacement therapy? [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Natural Treatments Instead of Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Suzanne Somers on hormone therapy for menopause, part 1 of 6 [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy for post-menopausal women [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2011]
- Joe Rogan talking about hormone replacement therapy 6-14-2011 [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy and Weight [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- HRC Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Study Hormone Replacement Therapy Increases Breast Cancer Risk - kdka.com [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- 020 - Neo Hormones [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2011]
- Making Sense of Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2011]
- HRT MTF Transition Report Week 10 [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement - Part 2 [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement - Part 1 [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2011]
- Goldie Lookin Chain - HRT [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): Optimizing Clinical Outcomes - Michael Aziz, MD [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Thyroid Replacement Therapy - Ronald Rothenberg, MD [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Dr. Ralph Turner discusses Hormone Replacement Therapy. [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- 1 year on HRT [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- The Wiley Protocol [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- My Journal with Low Testosterone TRT Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- 12 years of HRT: My Transition in photos [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Dr. Steven Jepson talks about Bio-identical Hormone Replacment Therapy [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Estradiol Valerate Injection HRT (Part 3)of(3) [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Study: Post-Menopausal Hormone Therapy Increases Cancer Risk [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Bio-identical Hormone Replacement (anti-aging) Therapy - Westchase, Tampa, Florida [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- natural hormone replacement [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- 6 Month Hormone Effects (before and after) [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Jeff Life, MD - Cenegenics, Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Huge [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Transsexual hormones,Intramuscular injection, Progynon Depot,Estradiol [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- Dr Whiting on Menopause and the Dangers of HRT [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Ahuviya Harel (ADF-Fuensalida) to Start Hormone Replacement Therapy [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Clomid Defined - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy - Dr. Denis Rebic - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Dr. Pamela Smith - Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Jasper Carrott - Traffic [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- VIDEO: Breast Cancer, Hormone Replacement Therapy Connection - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Sulak - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Menopause [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- bio identical hormone replacement therapy raleigh durcham chaepl hill north carolina - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Endocrine Related Hair Loss, Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Treat This? Friedman - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Dr. Navarro Discusses Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy by the Book - Eldred Taylor, MD - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Sangeeta Pati, MD, FACOG, discusses Hormone Replacement - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Active Center's Dr. Gross Discusses Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy on NEWS 12 NJ - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- DALLAS ANTI-AGING MEDICINE BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy and Menopause in Women - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Amberen - Natural HRT Alternative Commercial - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- The Dangers of HRT - Video [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2011]
- The Benefits and Risks of Male Hormone Replacement Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- Natural Menopause Treatment - Herbal HRT Alternative - Video [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2011]
- Dr. Ian Thorneycroft - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- Sarah,MTF Transgender 3months HRT - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- 26. ftm 1 month on t - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- Dr. Quint Jardine - Hormone Replacement Therapy with Pellets - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- 6 Month Changes MTF HRT - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2011]
- Medical Mondays: Will hormone replacement therapy increase my risk of breast cancer? - Video [Last Updated On: December 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 6th, 2011]
- HRT EXPERIENCES NOT ALL GOOD - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2011]
- Sarah, MTF transgender 9 months HRT - Video [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2011]
- Full: Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Prostate Tissue in Men with Late-Onset Hypogonadism (Dramatic Health) - Video [Last Updated On: December 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 10th, 2011]
- Suzanne Somers on hormone therapy for menopause, part 3 of 6 - Video [Last Updated On: December 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 11th, 2011]
- 1 Year HRT MTF Transition - Video [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2011]