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Cancer Survivor Fights for Frozen Egg Funding
9 Nov
Summary
- Mollie Mulheron, 28, seeks NHS fertility preservation post-cancer treatment.
- Her cancer was aggressive, preventing pre-chemotherapy egg freezing.
- She petitions for consistent NHS funding for fertility after cancer.
A 28-year-old woman from Lancashire is fighting for access to NHS-funded fertility preservation treatment after battling stage four blood cancer. Mollie Mulheron was unable to freeze her eggs before chemotherapy due to the aggressive nature of her illness, which required immediate treatment. Though now cancer-free, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has denied her eligibility for post-chemotherapy egg freezing.
Mollie expressed frustration, stating the denial is unfair since funding is available before chemotherapy but not after. She experienced a challenging recovery, undergoing extensive chemotherapy over 150 days to beat the cancer. She believes the current situation creates a 'postcode lottery' for fertility preservation services.
She has initiated an online petition to advocate for improved fertility protection for young cancer survivors and to close what she describes as an NHS funding gap. Updated NICE guidance recommends discussing fertility preservation with patients, but its non-mandatory nature leads to inconsistent application by local NHS bodies. This has left Mollie feeling uncertain and frustrated about her future options for having children.
