Did anyone get pregnant after Chemo?
Hi ladies,
I was wondering if any of ye had a child after chemo, i am 35 with no children and already had major fertility problems before chemo, we were due to do an ivf cycle using donor eggs this summer but i was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in April, had modified radical mastecmectomy in May and doing the third round of TC chemo at the moment, only 4 rounds to do and then six weeks or 30 goes of radiation starting in September, also on a clinical trail for triple negative for 12 mths. mine was 8cm, grade 3 that grew along the chest wall, no niple involvement, nodes thought to be positive from scans but unbelivably came back negative on histology report after operation.
so i was a bit shy about asking the onocologist about getting pregnant after i finish my treatment as the breast suregeon had ruled it out beleiving that it was strongly hromone receptive given my hormone levels when i was diagnosed and especially when i would have to use fertility drugs to sync cycles and support pregnancy.
please if anyone has any experience of this i would be grateful, we were 15 months waiting for information evening on adoption to discover we have to wait for five years clear before we can even apply, then it would take 4 years and at least and sorry after trying for three years i know 9 years more would be impossible.
take care.
Comments
Hi Hopeful,
Yes, women DO get pregnant after having breast cancer and chemo. Most wait for a few years after treatment but not always.
If your cancer was Triple Negative, why does your consultant still think it was hormone receptive?? It is my (non medical) understanding that Triple Negative means not Est receptive, not Prog receptive and not Her2 receptive??? Or are they worried that a pregnancy could increase the chance of a hormone receptive recurrence?
Can you make an appointment with your Gynae to discuss the implications of pregnancy (especially with fertility drugs) after BC and chemotherapy? It might be beneficial to talk to a Gynae Oncologist as they would have a better knowledge of both the gynae side AND the effects/implications of chemo. I am sorry to say that I think that, apart from the implications to your health, there may be a danger to any child you might conceive. I think the chemo drugs could take a while to clear your system and they would be highly toxic to a foetus???? But I have no medical background so I could be WAY off the mark on that one.
I can only imagine how tough and heartbreaking this is for you. I just want to wish you luck. Let us know how you get on.
Hugs,
Flo.
And I hope the remainder of your treatment goes well. Stay strong.
Hi Hopeful
Sorry to hear you had to join the BC club!!
Am in treatment myself - three quarters way thru chemo with Rads to follow in Sept. I also had a mastectomy in Feb.
As well as this site I also use a US web site http://www.youngsurvival.org/bulletin-board
It has a specific thread called 'Fertility after Breast Cancer' - see 5th topic down. You can read and lurk without having to register. However you may wish to post some specific questions you have so you will need to register to post. I know from reading about other ladies circumstances, that some have gone on to have children post BC - so there is hope.
I do know that my own oncologist discussed children with us (we are lucky to have 2 - a one year old and a two and a half year old). The oncologist advised that it would be best to leave having (more) children till at least two years after chemo. I turned 40 earlier this year - so my age would be against me. I am also hormone positive so will be taking tamoxifen for the next five years. Medics also advise no pregnancies while on tamoxifen. We wont be having any more children given my age and treatments.
Wishing you luck with the rest of your treatments.
LindyLu
Hi again Hopeful,
Yes, I was wrong with the whole 'chemo toxic to baby' idea. But waiting till a year after treatment seems to be the guideline all the same. Bear in mind that chemo and radiotherapy will take a lot out of you and leave you fatigued and weaker than before so it makes sense to give yourself time to recover.
Anyway, I did some searching and found you some info on getting pregnant after cancer treatment. So here is a few links. Hope they are of some help.
Hugs,
Flo.
http://www.fertilehope.org/learn-more/cancer-and-fertility-info/pregnan…
http://www.oncolink.org/experts/article.cfm?c=3&s=20&ss=52&id=2452
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/138590.php
http://books.google.ie/books?id=y1NbEcNIHOUC&pg=PA70&lpg=PA70&dq=does+p…
thanks so much for that, the reason my specialist said no pregnancies was because i was in the breast clinic in jan 07 and the lump had disappeared and by march this year it encompassed over half my breast, the pathology report said triple negative but she belives the pill and ivf drugs last year had an impact on the rate of growth although it did not cause it as i had lumps before i started but they thought they were cysts or fibrodenmas.
it is great to hear of people that got pregnant after treatment. i will ask the onocologist , have third treatment tommorow.
talk soon take.
Technically, If it will is harmful to pregnancy depends on the specific drug you us in chemo, you should check the chromosome aberration rate, if it is in the nomal range, you can [url=http://www.tipsforgettingpregnant.info/:1w1of81u]get pregnant[/url:1w1of81u] safely.
Have just PM'd you with useful info.
Hi,
A girl who worked with me had breast cancer and had chemo,etc. She was told that the only chance she had off concieving was with IVF or something similar. She gave birth to a little girl three weeks ago which she concieved naturally.
Stay positive & i wish you the best.
Marcella