Chemo with Ovarian suppression vs. just chemo alone

cl00

Hi,

 I just started my first chemo today, TCH regimen for 6 cycles. I've seen three oncologists so far: one recommended chemo + ovarian suppression to protect fertility, while the other two said the results in  this area are not conclusive and didn't recommended. I wonder any of you have used/heard of ovarian suppression during chemo. I just want to have an option to have kids later. Would love some feedback. Thanks a lot!

nene2059

I did ovarian suppression with Lupron to protect my fertility during chemo.  My BS recommended that we meet with a fertility doctor and he gave us the options of creating some embryos and freezing them, ovarian suppression with Lupron, and I believe one more that I can not remember now.  I wanted treatment to start asap so waiting a month and overloading on drugs to get my ovaries to super produce for a cycle was not an option my hubby and I were comfortable with.  Lupron was a great option because it actually helps if you are hormone positive to suppress the ovaries anyway.  We went with that and whether it protected the ovaries or not I don't know but it certainly did not hurt. My insurance even covered it.  The fertility doctor, my onc and BS were all on board with the decision.  My cruel irony was that I ended up having to have a hysterectomy/ooph because I was a poor tamoxifen metabolizer but I still think the Lupron was a great idea and I think any onc that has a BC patient of child bearing age should be open to it. Our fertility is important and there have been and will be lots of babies born after BC.  Best wishes.

cp418

Check the forum for young women with breast cancer.  There are several posts you may find helpful there.

kittycat_blue

My oncologist recommended both egg freezing and Lupron shots. Like your doctors, my doctor said that there wasn't conclusive proof that the Lupron alone would protect my eggs, but he definitely thought it wouldn't hurt.