Ep 52: Hope and Healing with Jen Rhodes

Undergoing cancer treatment can be incredibly difficult and is complicated even further when you have to consider how it impacts your fertility. Today’s guest, Jen Rhodes, faced this challenge when she was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in June 2011, at just 26 years old. After her bilateral mastectomy, followed by a chemotherapy regimen known to have reproductivity toxicity, Jen was advised to consider freezing her eggs. In today’s episode, we talk about Jen’s recovery and what it was like having cancer so young. We then hear about the experience of freezing her eggs and what happened when she decided to start having children. Although it was disappointing having her eggs drop off during thawing, Jen bravely elected to pause her oral chemotherapy and undergo IVF. She talks about what this was like and shares a message of hope for those who may be going through similar struggles. Infertility treatment has its ups and downs, so it is important to trust your medical team and have faith that you will get through, just like Jen did!