Drug taken in the 80's to dry up breast milk?

bsufan

Does anyone know if there is any connection between taking the pill we were given (can't remember the name) back in the 80's to dry up breast milk?  Interesting that I found a couple of boards through google search where women like me were given the pill and then were diagnosed with IDC about 8-10 years later and also have had recurrences?  I was recently diagnosed with IDC for the 2nd time (first time in 1999).  I had a PET scan Thursday and I was told yesterday by the nurse the tests results are in but I have to wait until Monday to meet with the doctor to go over them.

sheila888

Shannon When i had my first baby in 1977 i was given that pill.

But the second baby 1980 they weren't giving it anymore because of probability for BC.

I was also diagnosed 10 years after my first DX with a new primary...

It could be a coincidence but we will never know....

Good Luck monday

Sheila

TB90

wow! I was given that pill in 1986 and I could tell at the time that my dr was very reluctant. I was young and in a great deal of pain and did not ask what the risks were.

This has been an on-going concern of mine but I have never been able to find anything about this. I could not believe my eyes when I saw this thread.

TB90

Parlodol is the drug I just found on the internet and although there are many SE's listed, I did not find BC..Can you find the study that suggest BC results from using this drug? I would be very interested.

bsufan

Thank you for the responses!  I didn't think anything of taking the pill in 1986  when I had my first or in 1990 when I had my 2nd child. But this is something I have thought about since my daughter did her senior project about me and my breast cancer and one of the things she told me was about that pill and breast cancer. I don't know the name of it and most assuredly could not find it out now. I saw something the other day that got me thinking about that pill and my recurrence.  I was 32 when first diagnosed, 12 years after having my daughter and was a stage 2b with a 3 cm tumor and 2/16 nodes. Did the whole lumpectomy/6 months chemo/radiation/5 years tamoxifen thing and thought I was doing good until recently.  I thought maybe my scar tissue was growing (if that's even possible) as I was feeling a different kind of lump, but then a sore appeared at the site of my lumpectomy scar and of course that forced me to the doctor.  On February 8th after mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy I was told I had a recurrence, 3.2 cm tumor, ER+/PR+ and HER2-.  I think those are the right terms.  I am afraid of what they are calling "mets"......I had a PET scan last Thursday and I know the results are in and of course I am just certain that every single ache and pain I have been feeling is the cancer has spread.  Trying to stay positive this weekend.  Only my boyfriend, mom and few close co-workers know at this time.  My daughter just had a baby on the 16th and I didn't want to interfere with that joyful time and I still haven't told my kids or  my dad or my boyfriend's parents.  Not ready I guess.  I meet with the doctor on Monday and praying for some good news or at least not some really bad news.....

sbelizabeth

I was a labor & delivery nurse for years--started in 1977. Back then we gave "Tace" (chlorotrianisene) to suppress lactation. There were two other drugs used--diethylstilbestrol, which was no longer used by then, and Parlodel (bromocriptine). Tace and DES were both hormonally based and were not recommended for women with personal histories of breast cancer, I believe. Parlodel is not hormonal.

ShannonLeigh, I don't know if this is on your radar screen, but no matter what you took or didn't take, your breast cancer is not your fault. Hang in there, GF. One day at a time.

peten

hello - my wife took a drug to dry up her breast milk for our two boys in 1993 and 1994 - she was diagnosed with breast ca in 1995 - she believed that this drug caused the cancer - I was just surfing internet and found this site with your comments about potential correlation - I always believed that this drug was dangerous but have no idea if there were any class actions or studies confirming the connection believed by my wife

santabarbarian

DES is definitely connected to post menopausal breast cancer

moth

This would be a tough issue to sort out what the cause is ... we do know that breastfeeding itself is protective against breast cancer. So it could be the drugs used to dry up milk, or it could be lack of breastfeeding itself.

don't @ me about this. I breastfed for *many* years and still got breast cancer ; but I'm also an IBCLC and the stats are that it *is* protective. But obviously as always, it's not a guarantee.

PollyOne

I was given an injection as a teenager in 1979 to dry up my milk after my first baby was adopted out. I nursed my second child for 9 months, then received an injection after I had a still birth in 1986. I went on to nurse two other children (one for 9 months and my last for two years).

I seem to have a combination of risk and preventative factors, and this is one I hadn't seen before so thanks for posting.

dtad

Hi everyone...I had the hormonal version as a injection with my first born in 1976. I breast fed my second. Did not think there was a correlation with post menopausal BC. However I have thought many times since how horrible that was!