Breast Cancer and Birth Control

I was taking birth control for 9 years prior to my dx.  I started taking it in high school to help with terrible periods, and acne.

The day I was diagnosed I was told to IMMEDIATELY stop taking it.

My only choice now is condoms (I know, it sucks)

You can use a sponge or a diaphragm, but I can't imagine using either of those.

My ONC and GYN don't recommend IUD's either.  Mnay of them have hormones in them, and they can all promote uterine bleeding.  Plus, my mom got pregnant with my sister with an IUD, so I feel like condoms are all thats left.

I can't imagine ANY doctor allowing you to continue birth control with breast cancer.

shelter I have allergies to some latex.  I went rummaging through his drawer and I can't find the ones I like- I'll PM you with the brand when he gets home.

Pills are out-- the hormones will jump start cancer cells.

The IUD- there are some without hormones.  HOWEVER, if you have to take Tamoxifen, there is a small issue with IUD's.  Tamoxifen, in a VERY small percent of patients can cause uterine issues, and b/c an IUD is a foreign object, it can cause bleeding (spotting, or heavier periods) and then onc/gyn won't know if its from the Tmox or from the IUD.  Plus, YOU CANNOT/should not get preggers while on Tamoxifen.

You may want to go with a sponge or a diaphragm.  It takes away some of the spontinaity, but its better then the alternative.

I stopped the pill when I was dx, but my periods didn't really change at that point.  I went through chemopause from the chemo, and when I was finished, my periods came back in like 6 weeks.

They are totally normal, as far as every 28 days, but in many ways I feel like it's high school all over again-- not so much with heavy bleeding that lasts for a week, but the debilitating cramps, and a few zits have come back... (I know, cause I need this in my life?!)

I have become new friends with Midol.  I can't believe I just found this pill now! It works great.

You definitely need clarification about your hormone status

Some people will get their hormone stats from the biopsy, and some will have to wait for the path from surgery.  Who spoke to you about hormone therapy?  Do you have a copy of the path from your biopsy?  You can call and request one. 

It sounds like they caught it early, however, birth control still poses a risk.

You will know everything after your lumpectomy.  And I can tell you, its scarier going in then coming out-- you'll wake up and be like- oh, that was it... the pain is totally manageable...you'll feel bruised and sore, but it won't be too long before you feel 100%

I was taking bc pills for many years prior to my dx.  My surgeon asked me to stop the bc about a week before my MRI -- not *immediately* upon dx, but certainly soon after.  I never went back to them.  I also had difficult periods, but that's because I had a huge endometrioma on my right ovary.  After finishing chemo and radiation, I had an ooph.  So, no more bc for me.

i started taking the pill about a year a go. three week ago i was diagnosed with breast cancer! there might be a connection. drop the pill its not worth it.

I was told to stop the pill as well, as my tumor was hormone receptive

Hi Lorena B,

I thought about getting a non-hormonal IUD last week but I chickened out when I read the consent forms.  The risks seem to outweigh the benefits and since I haven't had kids yet, I don't want it to affect my fertility.  There is also a possibily that the copper in the non-hormonal IUD can cause you to become anemic.  I asked my gyno about this and she said for me to talk to my oncologist first before I make a decision. It's bad enough that chemo makes you feel like crap, so why bother being anemic and feeling worse? It is too much of a risk and it is not really worth getting, unless you've had children or are done having them.

I was on the pill since I was 16 and was 43 at my dx. I was told to IMMEDIATELY stop those pills as I was ER/PR 100%. I know there is no scientific consensus that the Pill causes BC but having been dx'd with such highly hormone +++ BC I am suspicious. Also, my mom was on the pill for quite a few years, and on hormone replacement therapy post-menopause, and she too is a survivor of ER/PR 100% BC. I think with at least some of us there is a susceptibility to artificial hormones which make cancer cells grow wild.

I went into chemo-induced menopause so I don't need birth control, but still use barrier methods (condoms) because I still need to practice safe sex (and so do all of you!). I don't use spermicide - it irritates my girl parts. Condoms and Astroglide are the way to go.

I was on the pill for years b4 dx. I wasn't told immediately to stop taking them, but I was given dx by my primary care. I happened to stop taking them bc my insurance had switched and I didn't have an Rx card for the new one yet. I mentioned that in my inital appt with surgeon and he told me to stop taking them.

Since then we're  using condoms. DH is getting a vasectomy this friday. I'm thankful he is one of those guys who realizes it is SO much easier for him to take care of it than me. We were planning on getting that done anyway, but the bc helped it along a little. no kids, don't want any.

My SIL got her tubes tied last week and I couldn't help but wonder why her dh didn't get fixed instead.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I am going to get the IUD inserted on Friday. I spoke to my oncologist (actually, it was the PA who called me back) and she does not anticipate any problems. I am done having kids (biologically anyway) -- I have one almost-8-year-old son and will be 47 when I finish my 5 years on tamoxifen, so that is one door that I have had to close. (I still may adopt someday.)

I was also on the pill for many years -- while it is highly unlikely that it was a factor in getting bc, I suppose it could have contributed to faster growth of the tumor up until my diagnosis (when I stopped taking it).  Hmm, never thought about this before....

Lauren

I just posted this on the Mirena thread but I see it's relevant here too.  I have had a copper Paraguard (no hormone) IUD for 3 years.  Personally, I dislike it because it causes lots of spotting.  My recently diagnosed cancer is ER+.  I wonder if I wlll be asked to have the IUD removed since, as a prior poster mentioned, the spotting from the IUD could interefere with the diagnosis of uterine cancer.  Has anyone been in this position?

I got the IUD because I really didn't want to ask my husband to get the big V since he didn't want to.  Now that I've been through all this, though, it doesn't seem like so much to ask.

I was on the pill before first DX. I used Condoms, a shortly time and diaphragm between 2000 and

may 2006. A copper IUD may 2006 - july 2008 and Abstinence now

I can't believe none of your docs told you to stop taking the pill, and it was right their in your history.  I was told the day of my diagnosis to stop taking it by my breast surgeon.