# Breast Cancer Changed My Timeline for Motherhood

> Amanda Butler shares how breast cancer diagnosis reshaped her egg freezing plans for motherhood.
- Title: Breast Cancer Changed My Timeline for Motherhood · Popsugar
- Summary: Amanda Butler shares how breast cancer diagnosis reshaped her egg freezing plans for motherhood. Amanda Butler, a fitness instructor diagnosed with stage 2…
- Keywords: amanda butler, breast cancer, egg freezing, stage 2 breast cancer, fertility, chemotherapy, cancer treatment, healthcare, fertility clinic, cancer support, entertainment, lifestyle
- Source: Popsugar — https://popsugar.com/health/egg-freezing-breast-cancer-lessons-49310889
- Author: Amanda Butler
- Published: 2024-01-10T18:35:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: amanda butler, breast cancer, egg freezing, stage 2 breast cancer, fertility, chemotherapy, cancer treatment, healthcare, fertility clinic, cancer support, entertainment, lifestyle
## Diagnosis at 32
Amanda Butler found a breast lump in July 2022 at age 32 and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
## Initial doctor's reassurance
Her doctor initially said the lump was likely a cyst and recommended follow-up tests.

> Oh, it moves around. This is great. It's probably a cyst.
## Cancer diagnosis
She received a cancer diagnosis after a biopsy confirmed stage 2 breast cancer.

> Hey Amanda, we got your biopsy results in, but we would love for you to come in tomorrow morning or as soon as you can to get these results
## Career impact
Her fitness career and training roles were disrupted by the cancer diagnosis.

> My career is fitness.
## Fertility concerns
She prioritized egg freezing for motherhood but faced challenges with cancer treatment timing.

> My number-one priority has always been creating a family.
## First egg freezing attempt
She switched oncologists to preserve eggs before chemotherapy due to fertility risks.

> But you want to pass your BRCA2 gene down to your children?
## Fertility clinic issues
Her clinic failed to provide clear timelines or explain egg retrieval procedures for cancer patients.

> It was a mess from start to finish.
## Egg retrieval challenges
Egg retrieval caused severe pain and side effects that lasted two weeks post-procedure.

> The egg retrieval itself was really physically difficult and much more painful, for much longer, than I'd anticipated.
## Chemo and recovery
She experienced significant side effects from chemotherapy and egg retrieval combined.

> My belly was distended for two weeks.
## Timeline for motherhood
She must wait at least two years after chemotherapy to use frozen eggs for pregnancy.

> It's advised to hold off on having kids until at least two years after stopping chemotherapy.
## Mental health support
She created a virtual support group to cope with the emotional toll of cancer and fertility treatments.

> I've also become way more public about my experiences online and created a virtual support group called Cancer Baddies.
## Key takeaway

Amanda Butler, a fitness instructor diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at 32, switched oncologists to preserve eggs before chemotherapy due to fertility risks.