A cancer diagnosis turns your world upside down. Amid treatment plans and survival statistics, family planning can feel impossible to consider. But for many cancer survivors, the dream of becoming a parent remains strong. Surrogacy offers a path to parenthood after cancer, and this guide will help you understand your options.
Fertility and Cancer: What You Need to Know
Cancer and cancer treatments can affect fertility in several ways:
- Chemotherapy: Can damage eggs and sperm, sometimes permanently
- Radiation: If directed at the pelvic area, can affect reproductive organs
- Surgery: May involve removal of reproductive organs
- Hormone therapies: Can suppress fertility during and after treatment
- Age at treatment: Younger patients may have better fertility outcomes
Fertility Preservation: Before Treatment
If you haven't yet begun cancer treatment, fertility preservation should be discussed immediately with your oncology team.
Options for Women
- Egg freezing: Harvesting and freezing eggs before treatment
- Embryo freezing: Creating embryos with a partner or donor sperm and freezing them
- Ovarian tissue freezing: Experimental but promising option
- Ovarian suppression: Medications to protect ovaries during chemo (limited evidence)
Options for Men
- Sperm banking: Freezing sperm samples before treatment begins
- Testicular tissue freezing: For prepubescent boys (experimental)
Time Matters
Fertility preservation often needs to happen quickly—sometimes within days of diagnosis. Advocate for yourself with your medical team, and know that many oncologists now routinely discuss fertility preservation before starting treatment.
Options If You Didn't Preserve Fertility
Many cancer patients start treatment before having the chance to preserve fertility. You still have options:
- Post-treatment fertility assessment: Some patients regain fertility after treatment
- Donor eggs or sperm: If your gametes were affected
- Embryo donation: Using donated embryos created by other couples
- Adoption: Another path to parenthood
Timing: When Can You Pursue Surrogacy?
Most oncologists recommend waiting before pursuing pregnancy (or in this case, surrogacy using your genetic material). Typical guidelines include:
General Recommendations
- Minimum 2 years: After completing treatment for most cancers
- 5+ years: For hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer
- Case-by-case: Depending on cancer type, stage, and treatment
Why Wait?
- To ensure remission is stable
- To allow medications to clear your system
- To reduce risk of recurrence during pregnancy planning
- To focus on your own health recovery
Medical Clearance
Before starting surrogacy, you'll need clearance from your oncologist. They will consider:
- Your current health status
- Risk of recurrence
- Impact of any ongoing medications
- Any hormone stimulation needed for egg retrieval (if applicable)
The Surrogacy Process for Cancer Survivors
Once cleared, the surrogacy process for cancer survivors is similar to other intended parents:
Step 1: Fertility Assessment
Work with a reproductive endocrinologist to assess your current fertility status:
- If you have frozen embryos: Ready to proceed
- If you have frozen eggs: Need to create embryos with sperm
- If you have frozen sperm: Need donor eggs to create embryos
- If no preserved gametes: Discuss donor options
Step 2: Choose a Destination
Cancer survivors can pursue surrogacy in most destinations. Consider:
- Proximity for any additional medical needs
- Quality of fertility clinics
- Legal protections
- Cost
Step 3: Find an Agency and Surrogate
Work with an agency experienced with cancer survivors. Your surrogate doesn't need special qualifications—your medical history is about your own treatment, not the pregnancy she'll carry.
Step 4: Embryo Creation and Transfer
If you need to retrieve eggs or create embryos, discuss hormone stimulation protocols with your oncologist. Some protocols may need modification for certain cancer types.
Emotional Considerations
The emotional journey of surrogacy after cancer is unique:
Processing the Past
- Grief over lost fertility or the "natural" path to parenthood
- Trauma from cancer treatment
- Fear of recurrence
- Anxiety about the future
Embracing the Present
- Gratitude for survival and the opportunity to become a parent
- Excitement about your surrogacy journey
- Building a relationship with your surrogate
- Preparing for parenthood
Support Resources
- Oncofertility support groups
- Cancer survivor parenting communities
- Therapists specializing in cancer and fertility
- Your surrogacy agency's support services
- Organizations like LIVESTRONG Fertility
Financial Considerations
Cancer survivors may face additional financial considerations:
- Cost of any additional medical consultations
- Potential increased insurance costs
- Fertility preservation costs (if not yet done)
- Standard surrogacy costs
Some fertility grants and programs specifically support cancer survivors. Explore these resources:
- LIVESTRONG Fertility (discounted preservation services)
- Oncofertility Consortium
- Sharing Hope program at some fertility clinics
- Financial assistance programs from fertility medication companies
Real Stories of Hope
Cancer survivors become parents through surrogacy every day. Their journeys remind us that hope persists even through the darkest times. While the road may be longer, the destination—holding your child—is just as sweet.
Next Steps
If you're a cancer survivor considering surrogacy, start by:
- Discussing your plans with your oncologist
- Consulting with a reproductive endocrinologist
- Connecting with a surrogacy agency experienced with your situation
- Finding emotional support from those who understand your journey
GlobalStork is here to support you. Create your free profile to explore your options and connect with agencies who understand the unique path of cancer survivors to parenthood.