This is probably a stupid question but I’m hoping with medical research there may be a chance of something positive. I was diagnosed with grade 3 in 2008 and had a lumpectomy and one node removed in the December of that year. During 2009 I had chemo (the drugs were FEC75) followed by radiotherapy. I was 36 then and not in a good relationship so when offered support to help maintain fertility I turned it down. My last period was in January 2009 and apart from the very occasional period pain, periods have never returned. I am now in a relationship with someone who is without doubt my soulmate and I dearly wish to have a child. I know my chances are slim but I really wish that through research there is a medical treatment that will get me back to being a normal 42 year old woman. I have been on Tamoxifen now since July 2009 and I will remain on it until 2019. I have my annual check up tomorrow and will ask my consultant but just want to know if there is anyone out there going through any similar feelings and emotions and if there is any chance left to have a baby.
Hello Elouise73
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June, moderator
Hi elouise73,
Lovely that you met your soulmate after the hurdles of bc. Hard that sometimes timing and right place count for so much. Not sure if the below helps at all…
I narrowly escaped chemo (was borderline), but did some reading around at the time since was wondering about any last chance to have a child.
Two key factors:
1- While I’m aware chemo can sometimes make some women infertile, there are also some women who do get periods back after chemo and who manage to get pregnant - certainly heard of a few on the forum.
2 - Tamoxifen can cause changes in women’s periods or as I understand it (you’d need to check with your oncologist) some women stop having periods altogether. At the end of the time taking tamoxifen periods will either return if premenopausal or if the natural menopause took place during the time taking the tamo, not.
I think you need to speak to your oncologist and depending on what they say ask for a referral to a fertility specialist. Theoretically it may be that your periods may return, if you stopped taking the Tamoxifen, and if your fertility wasn’t damaged irrecoverably from the chemo. Not that I would advise stopping the Tamo but something to ask the onc.
However, even if your periods did return us tamoxifen takers are not supposed to get pregnant while taking the stuff since it is likely to damage natural development of the foetus. So you would also need to ask the onc what the increased risk would be of reoccurrence etc since there would be a risk from not taking the Tamo (although I understand the highest risk period of a reoccurrence is the first 2 years immediately after initial treatment so some women take a Tamo break to try to get pregnant after 2 years), plus, if you were to get pregnant and if your bc was strongly oestrogen positive, there may be a slight increased risk due to the additional oestrogen produced when pregnant.
I considered the risks and for me, being a couple of years older the chance of getting pregnant was lowish and unfortunately not worth the increased risks re survival. I had many an arghhh moment as I sat with the Tamo on the shelf while weighing up pro’s and con’s. It’s hard and I don’t think many people who haven’t experienced bc comprehend the wider invisible impacts.
If your fertility has been damaged you may possibly be able to consider egg donation? But again you would need to weigh up the pro’s and con’s given you would need to take a break from taking the Tamo.
Suggest you contact your onc and ask for an appointment…see what they say and if any hope ask for referral to fertility specialist to advise on any tests they may be able to do and chances etc.
Really hope that helps in some way, and really sorry if its not quite the miracle ans you were hoping for.
Seabreeze x