She was thinking about her future. Cancer made fertility an emergency - USA Today

What the report says

USA Today reports that rising cancer diagnoses among younger adults are forcing some patients to make urgent fertility decisions before treatment begins. The story centers on Elle Crofton, who was diagnosed at 25 with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare bone marrow cancer more commonly seen in older men, after seeking care at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant were considered key to her survival, but they also put her future ability to have children at risk.

According to the report, Crofton worked with MD Anderson’s oncofertility team and froze eggs in 2015 after her condition worsened and a transplant became pressing. USA Today cites National Cancer Institute data showing that from 2010 to 2019, incidence rose for 14 cancer types among people under 50, while noting that researchers have not identified a single cause. Terri Woodard, who leads MD Anderson’s Oncofertility program, told the outlet that cancers and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can damage reproductive organs, eggs or sperm.

The article also highlights practical barriers. Fertility preservation may be constrained by treatment timelines, age and cost; USA Today reports that one egg-freezing cycle typically runs $8,000 to $12,000 and is often not covered by insurance, with broader costs potentially reaching $15,000 to $20,000.

Crofton later moved back to Philadelphia and chose to become a parent using donor sperm. Of nine eggs retrieved, three survived thawing and one became a viable embryo, resulting in her son, Harry. USA Today frames her experience as an example of why fertility counseling is increasingly being built into cancer care for young adults.