Webinar – Family Building and Cancer

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently presented the webinar “Family Building and Cancer,” for an audience of health care professionals, cancer survivors, and caregivers alike. Being diagnosed with cancer at a young age could mean your future fertility is at risk. During this educational webinar for cancer patients and their care teams, we discuss what young cancer patients need to know about fertility preservation and building a family in survivorship, including non-traditional methods like adoption, surrogacy, and embryo donation.

Dr. Elizabeth Constance, a reproductive endocrinologist, presents information about fertility preservation and how to build a family in survivorship through assisted reproductive technology and more. Megan Scherer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Worth the Wait, a charity supporting young adult cancer survivors, discusses financial and psychosocial resources and provide the basics on adoption and surrogacy for cancer survivors. NCCS Director of Advocacy and Programs moderates a Q&A discussion after the presentation.

Watch the full video below or watch on YouTube.

Webinar Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Dr. Constance: Fertility & Cancer
29:00 Megan Scherer: Family Building Options
50:14 Q&A

Webinar Slide Decks (PDF)
Elizabeth Constance, MD Slide Deck – Family Building and Cancer »
Megan Scherer Slide Deck – Family Building and Cancer »

About The Speakers

Elizabeth Constance, MD is double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology. Dr. Constance completed medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine where she stayed for her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She then completed fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Michigan. Dr. Constance moved to Nebraska in 2018 to join the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine where she serves as Director of Fertility Preservation and LGBTQ+ Health Services. She practices full-scope fertility and reproductive care including assisted reproduction, minimally invasive fertility-sparing surgery, and gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Dr. Constance has published research on bioengineering an artificial ovary system for use in pediatric fertility preservation and the reproductive effects of gender-affirming testosterone therapy. She has also written book chapters on fertility preservation for women with breast cancer and ectopic pregnancy. She holds a faculty appointment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and enjoys training the next generation of physician leaders in the field of OB/GYN.

Megan Scherer is the co-founder of Worth the Wait. She’s leveraging her leadership, marketing, and public relations skills to manage programming, marketing, donor relations, operations, and strategy for Worth the Wait as the Executive Director. Megan advocates for patients and oncofertility nationally as a speaker and patient advocate. She enjoys the personal relationships she forms with young patients Worth the Wait assists and loves providing hope and inspiring others with her story as a caregiver, infertility patient, and mom to son Elliott. Before co-founding Worth the Wait in 2021, Megan held marketing communication leadership roles in the health insurance industry.