breast cancer and infertility treatment

TaraMarie

Has anyone out there had infertility treatment? I had envitro-fertilization, weeks of injections. I still couldn't produce enough eggs, so we didn't go any further. I'm wondering whether this is connected to my breast cancer somehow. I keep meeting women with breast cancer who also took some type of hormone treatment.

gidget01

TaraMarie

I've often wondered the same. I had 6 months of clomid, followed by several cycles of perganol.  I was diagnosed 13 years after all of that with bc. I do recall at the time (mid-1990s) that my reproductive endocronologist had presented information on links between fertility drugs and breast cancer but I seem to recall that there has been additional research which de-links it.  I do know that whenever I have filled out paperwork with the surgeon or oncologist, they note that I took fertility drugs but no one has ever come out and said that it upped my risk factor.  I think there is still a lot of debate on that topic.  Perhaps fertility drugs would impact someone who was highly ER+/PR+ differently than someone who wasn't. I was both ER+/PR+ but was a very low positive. 

TaraMarie

I had treatment about ten years ago. The reason I became suspicious is because I had started having menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, irritability. My breasts were very painful, both of them, all over. Shortly after these symtoms I felt a mass in my right breast (I have always done self exams). It grew very quickly (who knows how long it was growing before I felt it). I'm no expert, but I felt this was some type of hormonal issue which catapolted the breast cancer. I also have none of the other typical reasons for developing breast cancer except one. No family history, etc. I guess the only one I had was not ever having kids. Funny thing is that I had to have envitro because I developed Toxic Shock as a teenager which ultimately destroyed my reproductive system. Since my cancer treatment, all menopause symptoms have dissappeared. I haven't been able to get my records on which drugs I took. I know there was a shot I had I think 2x per day and something else. It was a tramatic experience. I have blocked it out. I really didn't like hearing that the reason I got breast cancer was because "I'm a woman". I'm a cause and effect person. I really need to know so I can prevent the cancer from coming back. Thanks for sharing.

Niknak0320

I used fertility drugs for years as an egg donor (one cycle in 2002) and as a gestational surrogate (delivered 4 gorgeous babies for 3 famiilies with a total of 8 IVF cycles from 2003-2009).  I was 33 weeks pregnant with my 4th surrogate baby when I found my lump...I asked my surgeon if the fertility drugs caused my breast cancer and she quickly told me "no"...I'm still not sure that I believe her <shrug>

MsBliss

How we can inject these powerful hormones and not think they will make the body go a little wonky?  We are talking about endocrine issues and endocrine driven breast cancer.  Who do these doctors think they are kidding?