Elle Crofton was 37 when she finally got to hold her son.
It was a long journey. Twelve years earlier, on her 25th birthday, she was at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, anxiously waiting for confirmation of a diagnosis her previous tests had hinted at. The exhaustion she had attributed to her demanding job and intense CrossFit sessions turned out to be something far more serious.
The diagnosis? Myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare type of blood cancer that typically affects older men. As Crofton navigated this unexpected reality, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant emerged as her best options for survival. Yet, there was a catch: these treatments could compromise her hopes of becoming a mother.
“It was going to be really heartbreaking if this didn’t work,” Crofton now reflects. “The mental load was heavy.”
As cancer increasingly touches the lives of younger adults—many now facing fertility preservation decisions—Crofton’s story is becoming more common. Between 2010 and 2019, the rates of 14 different cancer types surged among those under 50, with researchers still trying to untangle the reasons behind this trend.
“When I learned that a stem cell transplant was in my future, and that it would involve a lot of intense chemotherapy, I began to think about fertility,” she admits.
Although the overall cancer death rate has dropped over the years, more young adults are still receiving diagnoses that complicate their lives. Each year, around 80,000 U.S. adults ages 20 to 39 are diagnosed with cancer. Treatments can disrupt reproductive health, something noted by Terri Woodard, a professor at MD Anderson who leads the Oncofertility program.
Cancers like ovarian, testicular, and even uterine ones can directly affect the reproductive system, and chemotherapy can damage eggs and sperm. “Many people don’t even think about this as a concern when dealing with cancer,” Woodard points out. “They’re often taken aback.”
‘We weren’t really sure it would even work’
When Crofton chose to freeze her eggs in 2015, it was still a relatively new option in cancer care. Since then, fertility preservation has gained traction and is now commonplace in major cancer treatment facilities.
Woodard stresses that discussing fertility preservation doesn’t mean a patient is committing to parenthood; it simply keeps the option open. “Many express that initially, they had no plans for kids, but they don’t want to lose that possibility now that it’s on the table,” she adds. Fear of future regret plays a big role in these decisions.
Even if patients forgo egg freezing, it’s misguided to assume they’ll never have children again, Woodard explains. Some can conceive naturally later, while others find success through donor eggs or adoption.
Crofton, who has always envisioned having children, took action when faced with her diagnosis. In the summer following her diagnosis in May 2013, she began a maintenance medication intended to stabilize her health, which she hoped would buy her time. But after 18 months, her condition worsened, requiring urgent treatment.
“The urgency made the conversation about managing an IVF cycle even more complicated,” she recalls. “If I’m unwell, how can I even think about having a child?”
Fertility preservation is complicated, and timing matters. Chemotherapy can often come quickly, leaving little room for multiple egg retrievals. For women in their early 30s, success typically hinges on retrieving around 14 mature eggs.
The financial strain also poses a challenge. A single egg-freezing cycle can cost between $8,000 to $12,000, with insurance rarely stepping in to help.
“Most people have to pay the full price out-of-pocket,” Woodard notes, highlighting how this can be especially burdensome for young individuals just starting out in life.
In March 2015, Crofton managed to have one egg retrieval just before her transplant. The process resulted in nine eggs, yet the uncertainties looming over her added to the stress. Sometimes, she worried about whether she could continue working with kids if she couldn’t have her own.
“We weren’t really sure it would even work,” Crofton remembers. “On top of other stresses, this added another layer of unknown.”
Why fertility conversations matter
In the years that followed, Crofton completed her treatment, moved back to Philadelphia, and arranged for her frozen eggs to be shipped. Her cancer journey reshaped her timeline for becoming a parent.
“From 27 to 30, I was living at home, recovering and regaining my life,” she says. But upon moving back to Philly, she realized most of her friends were settled down. By the time she turned 35, she made up her mind; she didn’t want to postpone parenthood any longer, even if it meant going it alone.
After selecting a sperm donor, Crofton had her frozen eggs thawed just before her 37th birthday. Ultimately, three eggs survived and were successfully fertilized, leading to one viable embryo fit for transfer.
That embryo became her son, Harry. On May 30, Woodard arrived at Crofton’s parents’ house in Houston to meet him. She was met with a joyful reunion—a baby with “the biggest cheeks” and “the most chunky legs.” In that instant, Woodard reflected on the determined 25-year-old she met long ago.
“Talk about delayed gratification,” Woodard said, filled with happiness for Crofton.
