The Chemo Quandary

Because my larger tumor (the 2.3cm tumor) was invasive and triple-negative, the medical community recommends that I have chemotherapy. My quandary is not whether or not to have chemo but rather which hospital program to choose. I have seen 3 different doctors. Each doctor's plan is similar but different enough to give me pause. In some ways, the plan isn't even the issue that keeps me up at nights. My biggest concern regarding chemo is the infertility side effect. I am getting married in less than 2 weeks. While we weren't planning on starting a family immediately, I didn't think we might not be able to have children on our own. Now all I can think about is my fertility, and potential loss of it.

Chemotherapy causes women to experience premature menopause. After chemo, some women menstruate again, others do not. The doctors cannot predict who will and who won't menstruate again. The closer a woman is to the typical age of menopause, the more likely she is to remain menopausal. Younger women are more likely to resume menstruation, but not always.

With the rise of breast cancer in young women, I assumed that doctors would be more compassionate about the infertility side effect. But it turns out, that it is just me assuming that everyone should be knowledgeable and caring about what I want them to be knowledgeable and caring about. Silly me!

The three doctors that I have seen have three very different attitudes towards chemo and infertility. Let's compare doctors:

• Doctor #1: Chemo patients have a 50/50 of remaining infertile after chemo. Suggests meeting with an infertility specialist to discuss harvesting eggs. Option is expensive, stressful, and not guaranteed. Also tells me that drugs are available to "freeze" the ovaries in an attempt to preserve fertility.
  
• Doctor #2: Ignored my concerns about the infertility side effects. Did not really answer my question about Lupron and other similar drugs but rather suggested that this drug would only be necessary when and if I am on a hormone plan (which would follow chemo).
  
• Doctor #3: Aware of the infertility side effects. Offered to see if Zoladex might be made available to me.
  

I am at the point in my research where I am wondering if I am on the only one concerned with this issue. I can find very little on medical information sites other than the fact that infertility is a side effect. My search of discussion boards turns up very little helpful advice (although I did find a new web discussion board on which doctors participate so maybe I'll get a breakthrough). While I am young to be breast cancer patient, am I young enough to not remain menopausal? One thing I am learning is that these potential fertility saving drugs have their own unpleasant side effects. It is all so confusing. And I have my own self-imposed deadline of choosing a doctor before I leave town for my wedding. Ack!

Does anyone out there have any practical advice or suggestions for me?