Like many people, I knew someone who was affected by cancer when they were a teenager. His name was Joey Edwards. Although he was a year older than me, we went to a very small middle school together and played on the basketball team.

Joey was one of the most admirable and upstanding players on the team, and he carried a bright energy with him wherever he went. I didn’t see much of him for a while, until we ended up on the same recreational basketball team during my freshman year of high school. Once again, he was a strong role model and always looked out for me when I wasn’t playing my best.

A year or two later, I found out that Joey had been fighting a hard battle against pediatric osteosarcoma. Before long, he was no longer with us.

Unfortunately, Joey will never be able to carry on his legacy through children of his own. That’s something that makes this cause especially meaningful to me. There are so many amazing people in my generation who may worry about their ability to have a family after cancer treatment.

Shave & Buzz is my way of helping them reach that dream, and showing the same level of support that Joey once showed me.

When adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients who have completed treatment are asked their biggest concerns, the most common is: "Will I be able to have children?" It’s not the risk for cancer recurrence or disability and disfigurement - the desire to build a family is their highest priority.  In addition to the toxicity of cancer treatments themselves, chronic health conditions can occur in the aftermath of any cancer treatment protocol, and infertility is among the most common long-term complication.

So, it’s unfortunate that in the confusion and deluge of information during a new cancer diagnosis, including staging, testing, treatment and prognosis, the topic of fertility preservation can be set aside or forgotten.   AYA cancer patients report a lack of adequate information to make informed fertility decisions.  Meeting the unique fertility goals of every patient requires appropriate fertility counseling, as well as logistical and financial access to fertility care.

One of I’m Not Done Yet's mission is to provide the resources for AYA cancer patients to preserve their fertility. 

Your support of the Shave & Buzz will help ensure that these young patients have the HOPE that despite having cancer, they can one day have a family of their own.