Gena Wright - "Thank God for miracles that continue"

Gena Wright, Knightdale, NC

Like many young women fighting breast cancer, Gena Wright of Knightdale, N.C., also faced the possibility that cancer treatment may cause fertility problems in the future. To abate this worry, Wright’s oncologist, Dr. Michael Meyers, referred Wright and her husband, Brian, to Drs. Marc Fritz and Jennifer Mersereau  in the UNC Fertility Preservation Clinic before undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Wright said, "The wonderful physicians here at UNC explained everything my husband and I needed to know about fertility and the program. I had heard of sperm freezing but had no idea that embryos could be frozen. It was a real tearjerker after I learned that possible permanent menopause and sterility could occur while receiving chemotherapy."

The UNC Fertility Preservation Clinic gives cancer patients more options to protect and preserve their fertility. Although male cancer patients have a way of preserving fertility through freezing sperm, female cancer patients lacked the same kind of effective options until recently. Now, medical advances have opened up more opportunities for female cancer patients looking to preserve their fertility through oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation.

Wright said, "We had a huge option, another miracle. I'm just so thankful it kind of makes having cancer OK."

The financial burden of harvesting eggs, in addition to cancer treatment costs, were obstacles that Wright met. She and her husband spoke with the financial consultant of the UNC Fertility Preservation Clinic.

"With having a cancer and the possibly of not being able to work, it would be difficult to afford to do this," said Wright.

After initially speaking with the financial consultant and finding out that a payment plan was not available, Wright said, "We were so devastated. We thought that it would not happen for us." 

However, soon after speaking with the financial consultant, the consultant called back and said, "Mrs. Wright, have you called your Bank of America insurance? Well, I called for you and everything is covered."

The doctors told Wright that she had a small window of time to harvest eggs between getting a mastectomy to remove the tumor and undergoing chemotherapy.

"We ended up harvesting three embryos, so they are at UNC now and they are being frozen for us." Wright said that one of the great things about having the eggs available is that it may be years before she can use them, and although she will age, the embryos will still be those of a 39-year-old.

"My Husband and I would like to thank everyone from the Fertility Clinic for all that was done prior to my cancer treatment.  It was just an awesome experience. Everyone there has treated me with respect and kindness. They offer state of the art services. They don't guess on anything. It's one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I thank God for the miracles that continue," Wright said.  "I am truly living CANCER FREE now!!!!!"