Im looking for some advice. I found a lump first wle took out 8mm ductal carcinoma and DCSI no clear margin, another wle no clear margin. Had mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, this showed more DCSI and 15mm invasion, grade 2. I have been truly happy with the treatment so far and have really taken it all in my stride. I wasnt offered chemotherapy, but will need to take tamoxifen for the next five years as the tumors were er & pr positive. The dilema is that i am only 41 years old with a son who is 16, my partner is 35 no children of his own, we were planning to have kids then hit with this dreaded cancer. Is it adviseable to have kids with er&pr+? Will pregnancy increase the risk of recurrance? I would like advice please from anyone who has been in a similar situation, or to be honest anyone who may have a thought on this issue! I know I should speak to my consultant etc, but I have been following posts on this fantastic site, and am truly touched by the knowledge, honesty and support that is available here.
Thank you all so much, lots of love xx
hi. i personally think that the issue of becoming pregnant after breast cancer is a difficult decision to make. i can only really refer to the research i have done looking into my own particular cancer and the issue of having further children.
i was diagnosed in march 09 with 2.8cm Invasive ductal cancer. my (only) son was 6 1/2 months old and i was breastfeeding. i fully intended to have more children.
when i learned my cancer was strongly estrogen sensitive i made a decision not to attempt to harvest eggs (which would have delayed chemo and meant potentially ‘feeding’ my cancer with hormones to ripen eggs). i will also need to take tamoxifen for 5 years.
for me, i personally feel that my pregnancy contributed to the development of my cancer. therefore it is imperative that in order to minimise the risk of recurrence i will not attempt to conceive another child. this is very painful to accept, but i feel i have to do everything within my power to protect my life and the family i already have from a recurrance.
however, some people do go on to have children after breast cancer… i just think you to need to carefully consider all the options before making a decision. i definately think you need to discuss this with your oncologist AND fertility SPECIALISTS.
good luck x
I was told by my bcn that it was almost certain my bc was caused by the hormones from my second pregnancy. I was dx at age 34 when he was 21 months old, with grade 3 100% er+/pr+
this was something i was concerned about too as i had 2 teenagers but my parter didnt have any kids and is 7 years younger than me.
i had ER +ve 100% grade 1 BC and had been on tamoxifen for about 18 months when i saw my consultant who said i could stop the tamoxifen after two years… but started a new job so was gonna stop this year by that would have been 3 years and age 41… but i developed a new ER/PR -ve BC so baby plans are out the window while im having chemo.
i was told by consultant not to get pregnant whilst on tamoxifen or for 3 months after stopping… but that he had loads of patients who had very successful pregnancies and no recurrence or new cancers following pregnancy… tamoxifen is used as a fertility drug in different doses too so it could increase you chance of conceiving.
statistically there is a slight increase risk in developing BC in the year after having a baby but then reverts to the same as everybody else.
i would suggest having a really full discussion with your cons…
btw i work as a family planning nurse and midwife and the biggest increase in pregnancies is in the over 40s… its the new 30s ;o)
Hi ladies
thanks so much for replying. It is indeed a difficult decision. I keep thinking what if do have a child and the cancer return more aggressive, did not repond to treatment etc. I could leave a child behind which is every parent’s nightmare! on the other hand what if it never returns and i give up my chance of having another child. At the moment i feel my head is all over the place. I havent taken the tamoxifen as yet, it is safely tucked away in a drawer. Funny thing is i keep looking at it as i know that once i take the first tablet there is no going back - as long as there is no unwanted side effects! we are going to leave it another 2 more weeks before making a decision to take them or not. Thanks so much ladies, your comments have been very helpful!!
carol have you been on the adjuvant online site… it gives statistic for life expectancy and risk of recurrence… not everybody wants to read these type of things and obviously they are only statistics but ny life expectancy to 10 years is only increased by 1% by taking tamoxifen for 5 years.
i may still have a baby in the future if i can even though i am expected to go back on the tamoxifen for the last 2 years but i might not do that and try for a baby next year… even if im not around im sure my partner will make a fantastic dad and it would be like leaving a wee part of me behind.
i have done everything right in terms of risks and still got BC twice so i just figure if im gonna get it again it doesnt really matter what i do (or dont do) so may as well do what i please.
I found my grade 3 lump in pregnancy and it grew ike crazy whilst i breast fed my 2nd daughter. My consultant could not give me direct answers in regards to pregnancy and breast cancer but all i knew is the lump went totally bananas whilst i breast fed making me feel that the hormones were certainly feeding it.
The ONC said no more babies. Direct. To the point. She even wants to discuss ovary removal as along term plan as i am only 32.
Ive just about got my head round it but we were planning a third this summer so it sucks.
what a great attitude towards your other half Lulu. and great news about the over 40’s baby boom…
we were trying for a baby for a couple of years before i was diagnosed and I have come off the tamoxifen after 3 years to see if I can pluck up the guts to try again.
My husband is very keen. I am a bit frightened of how I would cope with another diagnosis if i had kids and its really awe inspiring to hear other women coping with the fear and living their lives any way.
we are going to meet a consultant on monday to talk through our options as I am 40yrs old and this will be my last chance. I dont want to deny my husband the chance to be a dad. but I dont want to put myself at risk.
wierd isnt it how one minute you just want to survive and the next you want all the trimmings again!
Hi Lulu
thanks for the info, sorry i havnt replied earlier, hectic at the mo. I havent been on adjuvant site but my oncologist did mention that tamoxifen would only increased my chances by 1% as well. I do seem to have a good prognosis but i dont want to lull myself into a false sense of security in thinking im “cured”! What a nice word…“cured”…if only. I admire your attitude, and do as well think that if im gonna get this BC again i will, thats why im trying to carrying on with all the plans and dreams i had before BC.
Hi evie
thanks for being so honest, I hope you dont mind me asking but was the lump diagnosed as BC after you had your daughter or whilst you were pregnant?
LisaL
I understand fully the way you are feeling, such a scary time isnt it? good luck with the consultant on Monday.
Another question ladies, do you think it would be better to take the tamoxifen for a year or so before trying for a baby? the problem is that i do feel the years are going by for me. To be honest by body clock isnt just ticking it is positively alarming!!
hiya lillie the lump was not diagnosed as cancer until my daughter was 8mths old. id had the lump 9 months by then…idiots!! No one suspected it was cancer so kept sending me home saying “come back in 3 mths”…good job i did!
Saw ONC yesterday who banged on about never getting pregnant again esp now saying it would feed my cancer. Very reassuring i dont think. I swore i wouldnt but she did keep asking me to be very careful. Not sure if she was actually telling me never to have sex again! Seemed like it! jeezzz.
this is the info from the cancer research site with regards to pregnancy and breast cancer which might help you with your decision making… cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3328
sue you are still young… your onc doesnt sound very reassuring in terms of future pregnancies
Hi all. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (grade 1, stage 1, er/pr positive) in april 2006 when 12 weeks pregnant (age 32) with my first child. i had a local resection and lymph node clearance, 3 months of chemo (ac and cyclophosphamide), before delivering early in order to commence 6 weeks of radiotherapy. A year after my healthy son was born I had an elective bilateral mastectomy. I also took tamoxifen for 2 years. I stopped it after 2years to try for another child (with permission from all my doctors). My second son is now 4 months old. I remain disease free (now at 3 and half years) and we are planning a third child. Pregnancy after breast cancer is definitely a possibility, but best to discuss with all your treating doctors first, just to asses your own individual risk. I will eventually complete a 5 year course of tamoxifen, but i plan to live my life too - being a mum is is just as important to me
Hi iam new too the forum so please excuse any whoopsies. I was diagnosed with IDC grade 2 tumour er/pr + in May2008 and had just discovered i was pregnant with my first baby after trying to conceive for 3 years…I had a lumpectomy, and lymph node clearence at 12wks preg then six wks of rad once baby was born .As i am 38years of age I would like the option of more kids so I felt 5 years of tamoxifen would take me past my desired age for another baby.My onc advised zolodex/tamoxifen for 2 years and preg can be possible. I have also spoken too various people and have heard that preg after BC can be protective ?Who knows!!
hope this helps roxy
I found myself pregnant April 2008 at the age of 45 is was a bit of a shock (thought I was past my sell by) and already have 2 grown up daughters. I miscarried at 8 weeks, which I thought was for the best but I was still terribly upset. Then September 08 I found a lump and diagnosed Grade 3 in October. The rest is history but my cancer was highly er/pr and I do wonder if the pregnancy hastened it all.