Everything is happening so fast. Where can I get advice and support?

Do you feel like your world is in fast-forward right now? You’ve just received life-altering news, yet you’re being given little time to think about and plan for important decisions regarding your fertility and the potential for having a family after cancer. You’re also expected to manage the pressures, responsibilities, and relationships in your everyday life. It can all feel pretty overwhelming. And sometimes, just getting the facts isn’t enough.

You may not realize this, but approximately 1 in 52 women will be diagnosed with some kind of cancer between birth and the age of 39, so there are many people out there who have gone through just what you’re going through. For men, while testicular cancer isn’t the most common form of cancer overall, it is the most common for men aged 15-44. Between technological advances in cancer treatment and heightened survival rates, planning for life and a family after cancer has become a reality.

Are you wondering about what other people have experienced, lessons they have learned, or questions they wished they had asked in the early stages of diagnosis? You can listen to amazing people share their stories of hope, advice, and determination in our Videos section.

Mental health professionals with special expertise in fertility preservation issues may also be a valuable resource as you work through this very emotional issue. Perhaps you’d like to make a personal connection with someone who has been through what you’re experiencing now. Imerman Angels provides one-on-one cancer support, connecting a person diagnosed with cancer with a cancer survivor. You’ll get the opportunity to ask personal questions and receive encouragement from someone uniquely familiar with your situation. Although the organization is based in Chicago, Imerman Angels helps those with cancer and cancer survivors across the U.S. and around the world. Remember, you are not alone!