Breast Cancer and our Children?

Medigal

I am asking this question here because most of you seem to be much more educated in  bc info than I am.  My DD was given some contraceptives by her gyn and she said when she asked her if it was ok to take them since they had hormones in them and her mother (me) had ER+ bc.  She was told by her former gyn that the pills had the lowest amount of hormones in them available and they were safe for her to take.  She also told her my having bc had no genetic affect on her getting bc because of the fact I got it in my 60's.  Is it true that if a mom gets the bc late in life (60's) that her children do not have to fear getting it even if they take smaller doses of hormones??

I became a patient of this gyn about a year ago just to be able to make sure she understood my DD that I had estrogen positive bc and asked her myself if it was safe for my DD to be taking the contraceptive pills she was giving her.  She did not tell me anything about the 60's age factor just that the pills would not be a problem for my DD.  Have any of you ever heard anything about the age a mother gets bc being a factor like this with their children??  Thanks for any advice or info you can share.

Leah_S

Medigal, when I was dx I spoke to the BS about family hx and said I thought it didn't matter since my aunts who had bc were post-meno (in their 80's!). I was told that at one time they thought post-meno didn't make a difference but now they realize it does raise the risk.

My daughter is in the same HMO as I am and after my dx her file was flagged with "mother has bc". I was 57 at dx.

Hope this helps.

Leah

Medigal

Leah,

Thanks for the input.  Maybe her former gyn was referring to the fact that I was much older when I was diagnosed.  In late 60's. I don't know if it makes a difference but I just hope my DD isn't taking a risk with those pills even if they are very low in hormones.  

JanetinVirginia

I believe the existing BRCA genetic testing focuses on a family history of early-onset bc (pre-menopausal).  However, the scientific community is only in its infancy in identifying genetic links and there are likely many more we don't know about yet.  Someone may come along who knows the latest on birth control pills and bc risk.  I do know that medical history questionnaires I filled out at NCI center included questions about whether I had taken birth control pills and how long (along with questions on HRT, age when children were born, breastfeeding, etc).  So it's definitely on the radar screen or they wouldn't be asking.  If it were my daughter I'd urge her to use another method - why take the chance.

Medigal

Janet:  Unfortunately, she thinks her "former" gyn knows better than me and refuses to change.  I am going to see what her new gyn decides.   Thanks!

NSWTD

First let say I a not a doctor and I do not play one on TV either.  I think the statement the gyn made may have been overly broad.  I personally would not recommend my daugther use any kind of hormones if she could help it.  To me, better to be safe than sorry.   There are other methods of birth control out there.

NSWTD

Oops....let me say......fingers are going faster than the brain today