Erin survived cancer aged 21 – now it's a race against time for a chance of a baby

Erin Lavery, a young woman from Cambuslang near Glasgow, faced the daunting challenge of undergoing life-saving cancer treatment at just 21 years old. Diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in August 2024, Erin was informed that the therapy she required could severely impact her fertility. Unfortunately, due to the urgency of her treatment and the lengthy diagnosis process, she was unable to preserve her eggs beforehand—a step that can often protect fertility but usually takes up to three weeks to complete. This left Erin confronting the possibility that having children in the future might not be an option for her.

Now 23 and free from cancer, Erin is campaigning to make NHS egg preservation services more accessible for young cancer survivors. She shared her experience on BBC Radio Scotland, describing her ordeal: “I underwent six months of chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy, it was really difficult.” Throughout her treatment, Erin’s fertility remained an ongoing worry, but by the time her diagnosis was confirmed, it was too late to take steps to safeguard it. “It meant I had to just go ahead and hope for the best on the fertility front,” she explained.

Following the completion of her cancer treatment, Erin underwent tests that confirmed her fertility had been significantly affected. Faced with a critical decision, she was advised by specialists to pursue egg preservation immediately if she wanted a chance of having children. The financial cost, however, added another layer of difficulty. Erin revealed the expense she must cover herself: “It’s £8,000 to do this procedure that I’m going to need to fund myself.” Because she had already undergone cancer treatment prior to egg preservation, the NHS will not fund this procedure for her. Erin described the emotional and financial strain this placed on her, noting the shock of facing such a heavy burden after missing two years of work as a nail technician.

Erin has documented much of her cancer journey and recovery on social media platforms like TikTok, where she has built a supportive community. Her posts about the high costs of fertility treatments have sparked thousands of responses from people surprised by the challenges she faces. Though campaigning was never something she anticipated, Erin is now committed to raising awareness among young women about fertility issues related to cancer treatment. The Scottish government has expressed sympathy for her campaign, with Public Health Minister Maree Todd praising Erin’s strength and pledging a forthcoming review of fertility services. Todd emphasized that clinical guidance encourages health boards to consider fertility preservation on an individual basis, aiming to address the diverse needs of patients like Erin

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