Many people are devastated when they discover that the treatment they need to help beat their cancer will also mean they can no longer have any children. Infertility is very hard to come to terms with, especially if you were planning to have children in the future or to have more children to complete your family. The sense of loss can be acute for people of all ages. Sometimes it can feel as though you have actually lost a part of yourself. You may feel less manly or less feminine because you can't have children.
People vary in their reactions to the risk of infertility.
Some people may shrug it off and feel that beating the cancer is more important. Others may seem to accept the news calmly when they start treatment and find that the true impact doesn't hit them until the treatment is over and they are picking up the pieces of their lives again. There is no right or wrong way to react. You may want to discuss the risks and all your options with your doctor before you start treatment. You may also need an opportunity to talk over any emotions which threaten to get too much for you, with a trained counsellor if necessary.