Episode 6: Motherhood, Cancer and Fertility

This podcast is a conversation between Kathleen and Mise talking about motherhood before, during, and after cancer treatment. The last 15(ish) minutes of the podcast feature a fertility Q&A with Lisa Callendar Teenage Cancer Trust Clinical Nurse Specialist from the Ulster Hospital in Northern Ireland.  

For anyone diagnosed with cancer while pregnant or within 12 months after giving birth Mummy’s Star is a UK wide charity providing support  

If you’re concerned about your fertility before or after cancer treatment we have put together some resources that may be helpful- but please note you can speak to your clinical nurse specialist or Young Lives vs Cancer social worker for support with these issues. 

Here are some websites which talk about fertility preservation for people undergoing (or who have undergone) cancer treatment. Check out the Sex and Fertility information on the Young Lives vs Cancer website, the Teenage and Young Adults with Cancer information on their website, the Cancer, Fertility and Me website, or the Macmillan website. If you’d like more information on alternative routes to parenthood (adoption, fostering and surrogacy) please look at the Young Lives vs Cancer Instagram account @younglivesvscancer under the highlight ‘Parenthood Q&A’.  

Here is the website for the Regional Fertility Centre in Belfast, with their information about sperm banking. The Cancer Research UK information on their website here is also brilliant and comprehensive. (Remember to check out episode 2 of this series if you’d like to hear Connor and Daniel talking about their experiences).  

If you are trans or non-binary check out this amazing new resource from the NHS Youth Form about your rights when accessing healthcare (scroll to the bottom to read about the document and download). Also check out Live Through This, a national charity who aim to provide opportunities for LGBTQI+ people affected by cancer to meet and share their experiences. Or TransgenderNI or Cara-Friend for non-cancer-specific support local to you in Northern Ireland.  

Mise gives a shout-out to Dani on Instagram (@danigmakeup)- an influencer who has amazing videos on wigs, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Give her a follow!  

Please remember that Young Lives vs Cancer and Cancer Fund for Children are here to support all children and young people (and their families!) diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland.  

If you’d like to get in touch with Young Lives vs Cancer 
Website: www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk   
Email: getsupport@younglivesvscancer.org.uk | Simon.Darby@younglivesvscancer.org.uk | Laura.Rohdich@younglivesvscancer.org.uk  
Call: 0300 303 5220 
Facebook: Young Lives vs Cancer in Northern Ireland  
Simon & Laura’s Instagram: @Simon.YoungLives | @LauraYoungLives 

If you’d like to get in touch with Cancer Fund For Children 
Website: https://cancerfundforchildren.com/  
Email: services@cancerfundforchildren.com | helen@cancerfundforchildren.com  
Call: 028 9080 5599  
Facebook: Cancer Fund for Children  
Instagram: @CancerFundforChildren 

Thank you to Granite Exchange in Newry for all your help recording and producing this podcast series. Also to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding this podcast as part of our ‘Together we Thrive’ project and enabling us to share these stories.