AYA Cancer & Fertility: What No One Talks About

A cancer diagnosis can feel like a profound betrayal, but for many young adults (AYA), that betrayal deepens with an infertility diagnosis. In this deeply personal and informative discussion, we explore the unique fertility challenges faced by those diagnosed with cancer under 40 for both male-at-birth and female-at-birth individuals.

Guests Megan Scherer, Executive Director & Co-Founder of the nonprofit Worth the Wait, and Kara Bendle, an RN and Program Manager for AYA and Fertility Preservation at the Cleveland Clinic, talk about the complexities of family building after an AYA cancer diagnosis. They also dive into the emotional and financial barriers of fertility preservation, the misconceptions surrounding male fertility, and how societal expectations impact female patients’ sense of self-worth.

This conversation also sheds light on the unspoken anxieties of survivorship and parenting after cancer. Whether you’re a patient, survivor, partner, or advocate, this discussion offers valuable insights and key takeaways to help navigate fertility concerns in the AYA cancer community.

Resources:

• Worth the Wait Charity: https://worththewaitcharity.com/
• SHARE’s AYA Cancer Support Groups Across Cancers We Support: 
• AYA Breast Cancer Support Group
• MBC Support Group for Young Women
• Young Women’s GYN Cancer Support Group