Avoid Pregnancy as You Were Told

I was 36 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Premenopausal. What some might describe as “childbearing age,” though I did not have children, nor did I have any intention of having them.

My cancer was hormone-positive, meaning that the tumor fed on the hormones produced by my reproductive organs, estrogen, and progesterone. This meant that, even more so than with most young cancer patients with a uterus, fertility was a part of the early conversations with my oncologist.

Finding My Tribe

I thought my cancer center had given me excellent care. I loved my medical oncologist, who drew extensive illustrations on blank white paper to teach me about my cancer.