Parenting with Cancer Webinar Series
Navigating Secondary Infertility as a Parent with Cancer
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Time: 3 pm PT| 4 pm MT| 5 pm CT| 6 pm ET
We often hear from parents in our community that they feel a sense of forced gratitude when it comes to children–people being so bold to tell them, “You are so lucky that you at least got to have a child before getting cancer.” Yet there is still profound grief over the loss of fertility, whether or not they were planning to have more children. Secondary infertility adds yet another tally in the “loss” column of what cancer takes from them and their family.
This panel will address common themes related to secondary infertility for cancer survivors, including emotional responses, coping tools to manage grief, and options for reproductive assistance and family building. You’ll hear from professionals working with cancer patients in family building as well as cancer survivors, all of whom have unique expertise and guidance to share.
Thank you to our partners:
Panelists:
Jen Rachman, LCSW, Circle Surrogacy
Jen Rachman is a born and raised New Yorker. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of professional experience. She was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the age of 26, which sadly left her infertile. It took years for her and her husband to overcome the loss and grief caused by cancer. They decided that surrogacy was the best route for them to start a family. With the help of Circle Surrogacy, their surrogate, and their egg donor; they had their son 13 years ago. Jen’s surrogacy experience was so positive that it launched her onto a new career path. Jen now works for the surrogacy agency they used to grow their family. Her role is to assist, and support intended parents who are exploring surrogacy to learn about the process and the services that are provided.
Catherine Benedict, PhD, Roadmap to Parenthood
Dr. Catherine Benedict, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within Stanford University School of Medicine, Member of the Stanford Cancer Institute, and Director of the Women’s Sexual Health & Cancer clinic. As a clinical psychologist, she specializes in supporting young adults through their cancer experience, particularly in terms of coping with the impact of cancer treatment on sexual and reproductive health. The impact cancer has on quality of life often does not end with the end of treatment, and her research aims to better understand the long-term experiences and needs of survivors and develop ways to improve cancer care and support resources. Much of her work focuses on fertility and family-building issues for young adult survivors.
Rachael Liebert (Parent)
Rachael Liebert is a parent, a cancer survivor, and a lawyer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when her first child was two years old. Five years later, she welcomed her second child through surrogacy. The path to completing her family was challenging, but watching her two boys bond is a dream come true.
Aquia Ware (Parent)
Diagnosed at 28 with small cell carcinoma of the cervix while 26 weeks pregnant with her second child, she underwent a radical hysterectomy that left her infertile and four months of chemotherapy and radiation due to the rarity of her condition. Now nearly 11 years in remission, she and her husband have since fostered and adopted two additional children, growing their family.
This panel will be moderated by Bright Spot Network Director of Programs, Carissa Hodgson.
Thank you to our sponsors for making this panel possible.
