For those that are interested in pregnancy after BC, a couple of recent journal articles:
Pagani, O. et al. (2011) Pregnancy after breast cancer: if you wish, ma’am. Breast Cancer Research Treatment. Published online 23 June 2011. springerlink.com/content/f220640282118844/
Azim Jr, H.A. et al (2011) Safety of pregnancy following breast cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis of 14 studies. European Journal of Cancer. 47 (1) p.74-83. ejcancer.info/article/S0959-8049(10)00872-5/abstract
Both of the above summaries, indicate that pregnancy after breast cancer is more likely to increase your survival chances. But they do note that each individual case should be discussed with your doctors as we all have different risk factors, and also that analysis of the studies is difficult due to poor record keeping and different methods used during the data gathering.
also…
Metwally, M. (2011) Long-term complications of assisted reproductive technologies. Human Fertility. 14(2, p.77-87.
"A link between assisted conception and a number of genital cancers particularly of the breast, ovary and endometrium has also been suggested, but the evidence is currently inconclusive. " informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14647273.2011.580550
Great to hear from you, i’ve missed you on the forum. Hope you are doing ok. Hows your hair now? Must be pretty long ? Did you buy your new house in the end?
I’m doing ok. *touching lots of wood *. Rocking a pixie cut. Thanks for making the effort to put the fertility links up. My periods aren’t back and my onc thinks they won’t come back now, so that kind of negates the should I/ shouldn’t I debate for me! Medically its best they’re not back, but psycholohically its a bummer.
Hi Vickie
I’m so sorry to hear your periods haven’t returned. Even if you decided not to go forward, it would be nice to have the choice. But I suppose it also makes it easier, in some respects, to have the decision taken away from you. Hmmm.
I have finally finished herceptin, and met the new oncologist (previous one left for Canada) last week. He agreed that I’ll stay on zoladex until October, then continue on tamoxifen until I see him next march. We’ll see if my periods come back in the meantime. So, I want to continue researching the topic in the meantime, as obviously, we want to make the right decision - assuming a choice is still an option.
We did get our fabulous house - it feels like a holiday home! But have had a stressful first 6 months. I had a mini-breakdown in december/jan (falling out with friends, change of job, moving house, everything finally catching up with me), then my partners dad had a heart attack and was in hospital for 3 months. We’re all ok now though.
Onwards and upwards! 1 year and 10 months since diagnosis!
Edited to add: hair is curly (wasn’t before) and about 4 inches long on top. I have it cut frequently to keep some shape but am attempting to grow it long again. I feel like medusa - a head of snakes - thick and unruly!!
