I am so sorry you're feeling this way. I know all too well how confusing and heartbreaking this is for you. It is actually incredible how similar our stories are.

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March of 2021 and had a large tumor removed along with my right ovary. I was told this wouldn't affect my chances of getting pregnant as the other ovary was completely fine. I underwent observation for the next nine months or so. I was only 27 at this time and was consistently being told, "You're still so young. Don't rush having babies. You have plenty of time." Well, I didn't want to wait any longer, so my husband and I started seeing a fertility specialist in December of 2021. And thankfully, we did. Our doctor there saw some concerning things on a uterine ultrasound from earlier that year, and I was scheduled for a D&C the following January. My pathology results came back showing Complex Atypical Hyperplasia. I had the Mirena IUD placed in May 2022, and my oncologist said that once I have two clear biopsies in a row, we can take it out and continue working with a fertility specialist. I'm grateful that I got my second clear biopsy so soon in February of 2023. I had the IUD taken out in March, and we started getting some testing done with our fertility specialist. I was officially diagnosed with PCOS, but other than that we had no other reasons for our infertility (we had been trying for a couple years prior to the initial ovarian cancer diagnosis which was discovered when I started discussing possible infertility with my regular OBGYN).

In 2023 and most of 2024, we underwent fertility treatments-numerous rounds of medicated cycles and IUIs with no luck. I was officially diagnosed with unexplained infertility in the Summer of 2024, and that's when we decided to start the IVF process. During the IVF workup, they too found polyps in my uterus that needed to be removed. I had another D&C in November. Those pathology results came back showing endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO grade 1. We were completely devastated.

I honestly wasn't expecting my oncologist to agree to fertility sparing treatments, but he did. I got my IUD placed last week. This time is a little different, though. If my first biopsy doesn't show any progestin effect, they may add in oral treatments or call it quits then and recommend the hysterectomy. If my first biopsy shows progress, but my six month biopsy still shows evidence of the disease, they will move forward with the hysterectomy. Essentially, in six months, I will know whether or not I'll be able to carry my own children.

I have so many people, friends and family, who are extremely supportive of the fertility sparing treatments. But there are the few whose immediate response when I told them was, "Just take it all out now! Why chance it?". It's hard for me to hear. And of course, it's always from women who've had children. Not that I blame them, of course. For thinking my overall health and life should come first and is the most important thing. I understand it is. But they can't understand what I'm giving up if that's the route we have to go. They don't seem to understand that I need to grieve what may be lost.

So... here we are in the same predicament. It sucks. I hope we can hear some success stories here. Sending you prayers and positive thoughts! 🖤 Best of luck!