When Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, one of her first concerns was how treatment would affect her fertility.
When Sarah Pickles was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, one of her first concerns was how treatment would affect her fertility.
We wanted to try for another child
When I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2014, one of the first things I asked about was fertility. I already had a little girl but I was still young, and my husband and I had been wanting to start trying for another child.
We decided to try IVF before I had chemotherapy, so there was a chance of becoming pregnant after treatment. But initial tests showed I had an extremely low number of eggs for my age and they gave me just a 1% chance of IVF working.
I was so young, it was a kick to the stomach. At 32 I thought my body just isn’t doing what it should be doing.
I started getting some unusual back pain
Eighteen months after finishing treatment, a scan showed a shadow on my spine. So I was referred for further tests to check for secondary breast cancer.
Before doing the CT scan the radiographer needed to be sure I wasn’t pregnant. I said that I definitely couldn’t be pregnant but I was happy to do a test.
After fifteen minutes she walked back in with another nurse, looking worried. She said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this… but you’re pregnant!’
I couldn’t believe it, it was just the best news ever.
Pregnancy was another challenge after the cancer
I was being monitored closely as they still didn’t know what the shadow was and couldn’t do further tests while I was pregnant.
I was still dealing with the aftermath of my diagnosis and treatment. My body just wasn’t the same. I had constant fatigue and felt like I’d aged five years. I was sick for five months of the pregnancy and really struggled to cope. With chemotherapy I’d prepared myself for it mentally, but pregnancy was meant to be a happy thing. Everything just eventually took its toll.
Never give up hope
Now Monty’s here, it’s all been a small price to pay. It feels so special and amazing, it’s like our reward after everything we’ve been through.
In September last year the doctors told me they’re happy the shadows are definitely not cancer. I’m so thankful to still be alive and to have my beautiful baby boy.
You get told all these things when you’re going through treatment. You can’t even contemplate thinking about what’s going to happen in the future. You lose that hope. I would say to other people to take each day as it comes and never give up hope, you never know what’s going to happen!
If you're concerned about your fertility, you can read our information on fertility, pregnancy and breast cancer treatment.