A New Setback

Four weeks had passed since Ashley's visit to the fertility clinic, and she was now sitting in her oncologist's office, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Dominic was by her side, holding her hand tightly as they waited for the doctor to arrive. Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety wash over her. It had been a month since her PET scan, and she still hadn't gotten pregnant. The waiting had been agonizing, and she was starting to lose hope. The oncologist, Dr. Thompson, walked into the room, a somber expression on her face. "Ashley, I'm afraid we have some news," she said, her voice gentle but serious. Ashley's heart sank as she looked at Dominic, her eyes searching for reassurance. "What is it?" Ashley asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Dr. Thompson took a deep breath before speaking. "The tests have confirmed that your cancer has returned. It's not just the abnormal cell activity we saw on the PET scan, but the tests have shown that the cancer has spread to some of your lymph nodes." Ashley felt like she had been punched in the gut. She had been trying to stay positive, to focus on getting pregnant, but now it seemed like her health was taking a turn for the worse. She looked at Dominic, seeing the concern etched on his face. "I'm so sorry, Ashley," Dr. Thompson said, her voice filled with empathy. "I know this is a lot to take in. We'll need to run some more tests to determine the best course of treatment, but I'm afraid it's likely that we'll need to start chemotherapy again." Ashley felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She had been through this before, and she knew how tough it would be. She looked at Dominic, seeing the determination in his eyes. "We'll get through this, Ash," he said, squeezing her hand. Ashley nodded, trying to process the news. She was going to have to face cancer again, and it seemed like her dreams of becoming a mother were slipping further and further away. "What about the fertility treatments?" Ashley asked, her voice shaking. Dr. Thompson's expression was sympathetic. "We'll need to put those on hold for now. We can't risk you getting pregnant while you're undergoing chemotherapy. It's not safe for the baby or for you." Ashley felt a pang of disappointment, but she knew that her health had to come first. She looked at Dominic, seeing the love and support in his eyes. "We'll face this together," he said, pulling her into a hug. As they left the oncologist's office, Ashley couldn't help but wonder what the future held. She was facing cancer again, and her dreams of becoming a mother seemed to be on hold. But she knew that she wasn't alone, and that with Dominic by her side, she could face anything.