Fertility, Hope, and Survival: Megan’s Inspiring Journey Through Breast Cancer

At 23, Megan discovered she had the BRCA 1 gene, significantly increasing her risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Because of her family’s history with these cancers, she began annual breast MRI screenings. At 30, she transitioned to mammograms, and in July 2021, just two weeks after a clear mammogram, she noticed a painful lump in her breast. Megan was diagnosed with Triple Negative Stage 3B Breast Cancer.

The diagnosis came only eight months after the loss of her mother to ovarian cancer. “The emotions were overwhelming and came crashing down. The pain of this new diagnosis weighed heavily on my heart. I was devastated at the thought of my 4-year-old daughter witnessing me go through treatment, remembering how difficult it had been for me to watch my mom endure chemotherapy when I was 15.”

During this time, Megan and her now-husband were planning to get married. “It felt like our entire world had been turned upside down, and the exciting promises and dreams of our future seemed to vanish. As my husband and I decided to elope and cancel our wedding, we were confronted with another harsh reality of my cancer diagnosis: the uncertainty of having children in the future.”

Amidst the whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, Megan was referred to a fertility clinic, where she was presented with the option of fertility preservation. She and her husband decided to freeze her eggs before starting chemotherapy. Despite the fast-paced timeline, they successfully froze five eggs.

“Knowing we secured the possibility of more children gave us hope. Instead of worrying about the “what ifs” of chemo wiping out my eggs, I was able to tackle chemo and think ‘one day’. One day, I could possibly have more children from my frozen eggs. One day, I could watch my husband become a dad. One day, my daughter could have brothers or sisters to love. I didn’t have to worry about everything that felt taken from me.” The decision to freeze her eggs allowed her to focus on chemotherapy with the comfort of knowing that her future family options were preserved.

Afterward, Megan’s eggs were sent to ReproTech for long-term cryostorage. “Securing the possibility of a future by moving my eggs into long-term cryostorage lifted an enormous weight off my shoulders. Our eggs were sent to Reprotech for storage, which was another gift of comfort. With our eggs being handled by such a reputable company, we knew we wouldn’t have to worry about the future.”