Alyssa Mitchell: From Fertility Uncertainty to a Growing Family

— By Megan Brown, ABCD Marketing Manager

August 28, 2026

Breast cancer was already in Alyssa Mitchell’s life. Her mom had been diagnosed at 36, so Alyssa had always paid attention to her own breast health.

Then at age 33, Alyssa found a lump, and a biopsy confirmed she had HER2-positive breast cancer. An MRI showed what was initially believed to be Stage 2 was more extensive, and she learned she would need to start chemotherapy quickly.

Alyssa soon realized that having breast cancer at a young age would impact other parts of her life, including her fertility.

Facing Breast Cancer as a Young Mom

Alyssa’s son was about to turn 3 when she was diagnosed, and being honest with him about what was happening was very important to her and her family.

“Young children understand way more than you think they do,” Alyssa says.

Her oncology team gave the family a children’s book that used superheroes to explain cancer treatment. A hospital gown became a cape, for example, giving Alyssa a way to explain why she needed medicine, why she had to be careful about germs, and why her hair was going to fall out.

Her son offered his own perspective. Although Alyssa often wore a wig outside the house, her son would encourage her to take it off. “He would say, ‘Mommy, you don’t need your hair.’”

Looking back, Alyssa sees something powerful in his simple acceptance. “It’s almost like he was saying, “Mommy, you’re beautiful. You don’t need to be hiding.’”

“We Weren’t Done Yet”

Alyssa and her husband always knew they wanted another child. “But with an aggressive cancer, I didn’t want to delay starting chemotherapy to preserve eggs or embryos. We would’ve had to allow for time to track my cycle,” she explains.

After finishing treatment, one reproductive specialist gave Alyssa the news that chemotherapy had destroyed her chances of producing another egg.

She didn’t stop there and looked for a second opinion. Her new specialist explained that while her ovaries had been affected by chemotherapy, another pregnancy could still be possible with help.

Ultimately, Alyssa and her husband decided to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF), which reinforced for her how important it is to speak up about the life you hope to have beyond breast cancer.

“If there’s anything, whether it’s another child, a first child, or other goals in your care, don’t be afraid to say this is what I need, this is what I want, these are my hopes for an outcome for my treatment. Because if you don’t voice them, nobody will.”

Finding Her Place With ABCD

As Alyssa moved through breast cancer, she looked for others who understood. Through an online breast cancer community, she encountered a woman who was an ABCD Mentor. While Alyssa found value in the larger community, she was drawn to the idea of a more personal connection with someone whose experiences aligned with her own.

“Online cancer communities are broad, but with a Mentor it’s nice to know that you have something specific in common where parts of your breast cancer story match up.”

While Alyssa didn’t have an ABCD Mentor herself, she knew she wanted to use her experience to help others. She reached out to ABCD and completed a New Mentor Training session.

Since then, Alyssa has supported 10 Participants, and a common thread runs through many of her matches.

“Because I was diagnosed so young, we had our son, but we knew weren’t done yet in having kids. For me, a lot of my matches through ABCD have been women who have also said, ‘I wasn’t done yet,’” she says.

It means Alyssa can talk about fertility, IVF, being diagnosed in your 30s and wondering whether the future you pictured for your family is still possible.

Sometimes a Mentor connection lasts for one meaningful conversation because that’s all the Participant needs. Other times, Alyssa stays connected and checks in around milestones, holidays, or moments she knows might be difficult.

“I hope that they feel supported and cared for and that they can connect and reach out if there’s anything that they need.”

Finding Light and Sharing It

Today, Alyssa lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. IVF was a success, and her daughter was born in July 2026, growing the family just as Alyssa and her husband had hoped. Alyssa also recently began a new role as a children, youth and family director at a Lutheran church after previously working as a pastor.

Beyond being a Mentor, she’s also an enthusiastic champion for ABCD, even tabling at a local cancer event and helping introduce more people in her community to ABCD’s free support. “It was the best day. I left full of joy,” she says.

For Alyssa, mentoring is a way to make something meaningful from experiences that were undeniably difficult.

“I’m so thankful that ABCD is out there, that the support they provide is free, and that I get to be a part of it,” she says.

Her own experience has taught her that breast cancer can leave wounds, some visible and some not. But it has also shown her the difference it makes to have someone to talk to who understands.

“It feels good to be able to listen, share, and provide some hope that where you are now is not where you’ll always be, that light and joy can be found.”

Alyssa Mitchell was diagnosed in April 2024 with Stage 3 ER- PR- HER2+ invasive ductal carcinoma. Her treatment included chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and a year of targeted therapy.