Anyone else pregnant and has breast cancer?

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Hi Ladies

I was diagnosed yesterday with breast cancer. It is grade 3 and 16mm but I don’t know anything else about it really - I was so shocked that I didn’t ask!

I am 32, married, have a 14 month old daughter and am 16 weeks pregnant.

From what I have ready so far there is a 1 in 3000 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer whilst pregnant…I already feel like the only one and thought that this would be the right place to find people in the same boat.

The surgeon said I’m need the lump and surrounding tissue removed and then chemo followed by radiotherapy. He said they would ‘need to get baby out early’.

I am booked in to see the obst on Thursday and then the surgeon again on Friday where he will book my surgery date. He won’t book it until I’ve spoken to the obst to find out exactly where I stand in terms of what can and can’t happen at my stage of pregnancy.

As much as I don’t want anyone else to be in the same position, I also don’t want to be alone!

Faye

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Hello ohbaby

Welcome to the forums.
You’ve come to the right place for support as the many informed users of this site have a wealth of information and experience between them.
You may also like to give our free helpline a ring on 0808 800 6000 and have a confidential chat with one of the breast care nurses who are here to support you through this, lines are open to Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 – 2.00

Best wishes
June, moderator

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Hi Ohbaby

Sadly you are not alone, there are several of us who use the forums who have been dx whilst pregnant.

I was a bit further along than you, I was dx at 30 weeks. I had surgery at 30 weeks. The plan then was for baby to be induced from 35 weeks but my baby was having none of this and was born at 37 weeks, so still a little bit early. My onc said it would be preferable if I had a natural birth rather than a c-section. I started chemo two weeks after my little one was born. I was also dx Grade 3 and this was in May 2006.

Sorry but I can’t add anything more at the moment as have had an extra glass of wine this evening so my thoughts and typing may be a bit dodgy but I didn’t want you to think you were alone - you are not unfortunately but it can feel very isolating being pregnant and having a breast cancer dx. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask and as I have said, there are other ladies who have been in a similar boat who will also try and help and support you. Take care you and baby bump. Love xxx

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Faye

I am so sorry you are in this position and can imagine what you must be going through. I just wanted to say that I’ve just noticed that there is another thread on here called “Pregnant with Breast Cancer”, in the “Newly diagnosed with breast cancer” section. It may help to read some of those posts.

I do so wish you all the best. Love Ann xxx

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Ann, that’s helpful thanks - I’m still trying to find my way around the site! I’ll have a look.

At the moment the weekend seems to be really dragging - I just want things on the move as the sooner they start the sooner it will all be over!

Thanks again

Faye

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Thanks Swissmiss, I had planned a homebirth as I really didn’t like the hospital experience last time, so realised straight away that this was no longer going to be an option.

Since realising that I’d thought a c-section would be the best option…induced labour is supposed to be awful!

Faye

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Hi Faye

There are a couple of reasons why my onc wanted me to avoid having a c-section if at all possible, firstly he told me there was a 12 week window (for me) between having surgery and needing to start chemo. I had surgery at 30 weeks and he wanted to ensure that baby was born by 37 weeks and then 2 weeks later I would start chemo - in effect I started chemo 9 weeks from having surgery. At the end of the day he took the view that giving birth comes with complications so if baby had not arrived naturally I would have had a c-section at 37 weeks come what may.

Secondly, there is the issue of healing after a c-section, which is still a big op in its own right and most importantly the risk of infection particularly when chemo kicks the immune system into touch.

At 35 weeks they did a couple of ‘sweeps’ which weren’t very nice. At 36 weeks they kept me in hospital for a whole week trying to induce me - in the end nothing was happening so at 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant a c-section was booked for the following day which would take me to exactly 37 weeks. However, on that morning they tried once more to break my waters and they did and baby arrived just over one hour later!!

Both my consultants (onc and obst) came up with Plan A and Plan B so it is important that they both talk to each other and come up with a plan that is right for you and baby.

I do know of a lady who had to have chemo whilst pregnant (both mum and school girl now doing well)! and I think you will find other threads on here with similar stories to tell.

Having a baby is not supposed to be like this - new life and potential death in my body both at the same time, I really couldn’t get my head around it, but it will be your baby and your other child that keep you going.

Please keep us posted with how you are getting on. Both of you take care. Love xxxx

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OK I’m starting to get hung up on stats etc now. I’ve had to guess my stage though…as my lump is 16mm I guessed that I’m stage 1 as something I read said anything less than 2cm is stage 1 (is this right do you think? I’ll confirm with docs on Friday). So I’m stage 1 grade 3. I think this means things should be quite positive!

Also starting to think about things like how long will I need to have off work and if people tend to have a long period off to cover post op treatment etc or go back in between treatments. And also whether my hair will fall out!?

Oh so many questions!
Faye

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Faye hiya. RE induced labour. Im a midwife and i have had a natural labour and an induced labour and i will be honest in saying the induced one hurt more! sorry to break it to you but heck in the grand scheme of things its not that big a deal! It does go on a bit if you are before term too so be prepared!

I found my lump at 36weeks pregnant but was not diagnosed until she was 8mths old and then i had to go home that day, shocked and horrified and never breast feed again.

The ONLY ONLY ONLY thing that has got me through 5 cycles of chemo are my daughters. My husband is great but its my girls that never let me pause and wallow in a truly s**t situation.

Good luck
S

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Hi Faye
I started a thread a few weeks go on the “Newly diagnosed” board with the same situation. I’m so sorry you find yourself in this position, but you are definitely not alone.

I was diagnosed at 5 weeks pregnant and had surgery (single mastectomy and full lymph node removal) at 7 weeks. Sadly, a scan the following week showed I had a ‘silent miscarriage’ - no baby had formed - so I then had an ERPC. Rest assured, it was NOT connected with the cancer or the treatment, and I imagine you have already had a scan or two to see your baby is currently developing well.

I was also put under an obstetrician who said there would be no reason to induce or c-section unless there were other issues later on. I think those who have treatment later on in pregnancy may be induced so they can get the baby out and clear before progressing with radiation.

While pregnant, you won’t be able to have the radioactive material used to identify the sentinel node - but they can find these using just blue dye anyway. You won’t be able to have bone or CT scans (which I am now allowed to have), and you can’t have radiotherapy until after the baby is born. They will alter the chemotherapy treatment to give you drugs known to be safe in the 2nd/3rd trimesters. I was going to have this, but am now having one of the more common drug regimes (FEC-T). I know I’ll lose hair with this treatment, but don’t know which combination you’ll get and what the side effects will be. Deal with it one step at a time, and talk to the oncologist after surgery to find that bit out. Knowing sooner won’t make any difference and it might be overwhelming.

I have had 2 weeks off work so far - I think I could have gone back to work today to be honest, but my family don’t want me to, so I’m having 3 weeks off. And I do have a CT scan appointment this week anyway. There is usually a delay between your surgery and chemo to allow you to heal, even if only a week or two. It’s entirely up to you if you feel well enough to go back to work during that. I intend to, and also hope to continue working on my ‘good’ weeks during chemo, if I can. Have to wait and see how I react.

During the first week after surgery, have someone to help you if you can, as it will take a few days before you feel confident and stong enough to move your arm about. I was washing my own hair by the Thursday, after the op on the Monday, albeit with a jug over the edge of a filled bath. Do things at your own pace, but honestly, I was surprised how quickly I recovered and feel really fine now, with only a bit of soreness of the arm and restricted movement (still doing my exercises!).

I was also allowed home by the Tuesday, but each doctor is different about this, and it will depend if they are confident you have someone to help you - and whether you want to go home or would rather be looked after by the lovely nurses!

Wishing you well with the obs meeting (mine were amazingly lovely and supportive) and hope you get a date through soon for the surgery. I think it is better to crack on with the treatment - soonest done, soonest over!

Take care
Flora xxxx

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Hi Flora

Thanks for your reply - as it happens I was reading your thread yesterday and it did help.

I’ve just spoken to work (I only work tues, weds, thurs since returning from maternity leave), and they were great. They told me to take all the time I need and reassured me that my job would still be there when I returned. I’ve actually recently started a new job so it’s quite stressful at the moment to learn all the new bits and pieces. That’s part of the reason I’m asking about time off etc as I have enough to deal with right now without learning a new job! (I am also due to move house a week on Thursday). I’ve just told them that I’d rather act as a support function rather than learning new things for the time being and they were fine with that.

Fingers crossed this week goes well and all the news I get is good!

Faye

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Hi Faye,

Just wanted to pass on my best wishes, what a horrific situation,

Take care

Emily xxx

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OK I’m getting frightened! I have my obstetrics appointment tomorrow and my next consultant/surgeon appointment on Friday. I’m just worried that they might suggest ‘reconsidering the pregnancy’ or not be as positive as last time. Also, as much as I want ALL of the information ASAP, I’m frightened in case it isn’t the information I’m expecting. Fingers crossed! I signed off sick from work today as I’m moving house in a week, am full of cold, have a poorly 14 month old and just have enough to deal with without a new job too. I just want it all over with :frowning:

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Is there a support group near you? I know where I am in Enfield, there’s the Nightingale Trust and they were so so helpful when I was diagnosed when my baby was 7 weeks old and I had a 2 year old too. They can help with practical support and also offer free massages and things while someone else looks after your kids?? Or check out the haven or in Barnet, there’s Cherry Lodge? I don’t know what area you live in, but maybe see if there’s somewhere near you?

Also - you can self refer to Homestart (just do google search)- they will offer practical help for anyone in a ‘difficult situation’ with kids under 5 years old. They came and took my little boy to the park when I was having chemo and too knackered to play with him. It’s not means tested at all and support starts immediately.

This is a really scary time for you, so grab any help you can. If anyone offers anything - take it! or they might not offer again!

Hope appt on Friday goes ok - let us know how you’re getting on.

hx

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Please try not to worry. The obs will probably just check the health of you and the pregnancy but won’t know details about the cancer treatments, but they will probably have looked after other women and babies in this position.

With the surgeon, go armed with knowledge that treatment is possible and if they say it’s not - which is unlikely IMO - ask exactly why when there are lots of cases who were allowed to proceed and were successful. Look up the Royal Marsden and insist your docs refer to them if they want to not proceed. They are specialists in breast cancer in pregnancy.

I bet you find that they have already planned treatment to fit around your pregnancy - I went armed, and didn’t need it. I am sure it’ll be the same for you.

Hugs xxxxx

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OK so the appointment went well (I think). The Obstetrician was really nice and didn’t even hint at termination which was one of my main concerns. She has put me under her care so that anything baby related at the hospital with be directly with her ratehr than an assistant and has offered to scan baby a few days after my operation to reassure me that everything is OK.

However, she doesn’t want me to have Chemo whilst pregnant at all. She said she will get baby out between 30 and 36 weeks (34 optimal in her eyes) which will mean a c/section if before 34 weeks. Whatever happens she said for me 36 weeks will be as full term as I get.

I asked why not Chemo as I’ve read that some of the chemo drugs are relatively safe during pregnancy, but she says they’re not really so wouldn’t take the risk. Basically this means having my operation within the next 2 weeks and then not having any other treatment until at least mid-January. The caner specialist nurse who I invited along with me didn’t seem to think this was a great idea - she didn’t say anythng but she did stop writing and paused…might be reading too much into that though!

Basically every direction I turn leads me to teh same point - until the limp and lymph nodes are out and have been checked, there really isn’t a proper answer.

The care I’m receiving is great but I do feel alittle lost as I like to know what lies ahead and nobody knows.

Thanks for your support. Will update again tomorrow if I get any new news.

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Hi Ohbaby

Just a quick reply as about to run out of door to school … but I just wanted to say hang on in there until tomorrow when you get your results. The fact that you are a Grade 3, and if this is definitely confirmed, would in my opinion make your onc want to treat you sooner rather than later - mid January does seem an awful long time from surgery to starting any other treatment. It will also depend on whether you are ER/PR/HER2 +/- Also, as my surgeon reminded me ‘there are 2 patients’ that he had to consider, me and bump so all in all I had my breast surgeon, my onc and my obst all having a say relating to their own particular field of medicine but the bottom line is they all have to talk to one another and come up with a plan - a plan that is right for you and baby now and for the long term.

If you were a Grade 1, then obviously treatment could start later but you need to have all the results in before anyone can actually say what, when etc.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Take care. Love xxx

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I did find out today that I’m a something positive and that the cancer is Estrogen related…I don’t understand what all of this means so don’t know how important it is!!!

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Sorry, also found out the the cancer is in the milk duct

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Ohbaby and all you other young mums, I just want to send love and say I’m thinking about you all. I tell my husband your stories when I read your threads and we agree that we have been very lucky. I have had bc diagnosed at 38 and 50, and have brought up my kids to (semi) maturity in their early 20s, and feel blessed when I think about what you have to deal with.
thats all really, can’t make things better for you - wish I could - but sending positive thoughts. You deserve all the love in the world, and I hope things work out well for you all.
love, monica xx