babies after breast cancer

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mjm_va
mjm_va Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
babies after breast cancer
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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2008

    i was 33 when i got my stage 2 bc diagnosis. after BRCA testing, i had a partial mast, dense dose chemo, radiation, and 2.5 years of hormone suppression therapy (tamoxifen & zolidex). fortunately this was only a menapause preview, and my body bounced back.

    i am now 20 weeks pregnant with our first child. amino results confirm we've got all the right chromosomes in all the right places - although we are keeping the gender for a suprise. with so few fun surprises in life, why would we go and ruin one :)

    so are there any other post bc moms out there?

    i've got one fully functional set of mammories here, is it too much to hope that she'll kick into overdrive for breastfeeding?

    how long after birth/breastfeeding did you wait before getting a mammogram?

    how did you deal with fears that the increase of hormones from the pregancy might trigger another cancerous tumor? 

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited February 2008

    mjm,

    congratulations and best wishes!  I'm so happy for you!  Can't answer your specifics, because my baby was born 23 years pre-BC (LOL, sounds like John the Baptist or Julius Caesar).

    I'm sure you'll hear from other,younger moms -- once they've put their kids to bed!

    Best,

    Ann

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  • Ulla
    Ulla Member Posts: 840
    edited February 2008

    hi..

    congradulations and my best wishes,,

    u r inspairing me to follow ur steps sister...

    i just to be 35 2 days ago..i finished my chemo in 25th of jan and started my 25 rads today hoping to finish in 22 of march,,then to start tamoxifin,,

    i cant stop thinking about being pregnant agin ,,i have been aborted my 1st baby in the same mastectomy day,,sigh

    i feel like i will do the same as u did..getting pregnant agin withen 2 years of tamox,,,

    but i am really afraid and sad,,

    having the same of ur fears and worries ,,,trying to c the light at the end of this horrible tunnel..

    hugs with best wishes

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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2008

    ulla - hang in there sweetie. you are in the homestretch.

    if i can pull this off, you can too!

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  • jennnyc
    jennnyc Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2008

    Hi!

    I am 33 years old and have one post BC baby (10 months old) and another one on the way (currently 12 weeks pregnant)

    I was diagnosed with BC at age 30. I'm triple negative (Stage 2) and had a lumpectomy, chemo (AC and Taxol) and radiation.

    I got a mammogram about 5 weeks after giving birth. As far as breastfeeding, the cancer side didn't produce any milk. (I was told this was mostly due to radiation) The other side was fine. I still worry about reoccurence unfortunately. Only time will tell I guess. I'm afraid I'm not much help in that department!

    Congratulations and good luck to you!! :)

    Jenn

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  • CaNatalie
    CaNatalie Member Posts: 70
    edited February 2008

    Hi MJM and Jenny,

    Being 27 years old and not having babies yet, I love reading your stories. Like Ulla said, you both offer hope and inspiration to us still going through treatment and hoping to get pregnant after all this.

    Congrats to both of you and thank you for sharing!

    Natalie

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  • sabrinayb
    sabrinayb Member Posts: 31
    edited February 2008

    I'm not sure if my story will help or hurt.  I had bc in 1991 -- stage 1/2 idc, lump, rads, chemo -- at age 31.  There was very little information on bc in younger women at that time, and no info on pregnancy after bc, but I wanted another child.  My daughter was born two years post-treatment, and all was well for a very long time.  However, I was diagnosed with a second primary bc last summer and just finished chemo and surgery.  After all this time I don't think the recurrence has anything to do with the pregnancy (the baby is 13 now!), and I wouldn't do anything differently, but as bc survivors we are always keenly aware of the increased risk of recurrence.

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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2008

    jennyc & sabrinayb - thanks so much for chiming in. i know other women out there are having babies post BC, but i haven't been able to connect with any of them. 

    sabrinayb - you gotta take the good with the bad on our ride, glad to hear that you are healing up after round 2.

    i guess we all live with fear of a reoccurence, my grandmother is a twice survivor, and one of the first things she told me after i finished treatment was that if i needed to beat it again - i would.

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  • mplscello
    mplscello Member Posts: 50
    edited February 2008

    Hi mjm -

    Congratulations on your pregnancy!

    I got pregnant about 5 yrs out from treatment, just as I turned 40. (surprise!!!) I was taking tamoxifen when I got pregnant, but everything turned out OK and I had a beautiful baby girl on 7/7/07. I had bilat mastectomies so I can't advise you on the breast-feeding thing, but I hope that works out for you.

    I did have fears of a recurrence from the estrogen surge, as did my onc, but everything seems to be OK so far. I know it will be a fear I'll have to deal with, probably forever. But I plan on being around for at least the next 20 years! :)

    take care,

    LeeAnn

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  • Rob42
    Rob42 Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2008

    I am 42 with a 4 year old! I was diagnosed at 21, chemo and radiation. I, too, had double mastecomies, so I didn't breast feed, but my son is perfect and so far, I am doing great!

    Congratulations!

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  • kay12
    kay12 Member Posts: 77
    edited August 2008

    Thanks everyone for all of your positive stories !!

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  • SandyAust
    SandyAust Member Posts: 393
    edited August 2008

    Hi MJM,

    My babies were pre breast cancer (they were four at diagnosis) so I can't comment on some of your questions.  However on the question of if one breast will "kick into overdrive" for breastfeeding the answer is a  YES.  I am assuming you haven't had RADS on that side.  I breast fed twins for 12 months and that was one breast per baby.  There was definitely enough milk.  The breast increases production to meet demand, you have every reason to be hopeful.

    Good luck!!

     Sandy

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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2008

    well, baby Henry arrived 7/15/08 - all 8lbs, 9oz, and 22 inches of him.

    he's a perfect healthy little guy (and i'm a biased gushing new mom).

    i've been able to breastfeed, but i've also been supplimenting with the bottle as he's one hungry little dude.

    so this is a shout out to all you younger gals who get a BC dx - it doesn't have to be the end of your mommy hopes :)

    xo,

    mj 

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  • SandyAust
    SandyAust Member Posts: 393
    edited August 2008

    Welcome to the world little Henry!

     MJ that is great news - congratulations.  I am glad you are having success with feeding.  I used to top with a bottle as well. 

    Take care,

    Sandy

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  • CorasMama
    CorasMama Member Posts: 20
    edited September 2008

    Yayayayay! for you and Henry for the breastfeeding!



    You might want to try using a supplemental nursing system or Lact-Aid for the supplemental formula (or donated breastmilk if you can find it :D). This will mean that all his feeding is still stimulating your nipple, and will help you develop and then keep up your supply. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand thing.



    I'm currently facing down a diagnosis, and won't know for weeks, but we were just starting to plan out 2nd and 3rd child, and I'm feeling anger and despair over this change in direction.

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited September 2008

    Congrats, mj! That's wonderful!

    CorasMama--sorry you're in diagnosis limbo land--the waiting sucks. And I know I felt really pissed that cancer made the decision for me whether I could have a third child or not. It blows. Big hugs to you. 

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  • shelteringtree
    shelteringtree Member Posts: 55
    edited September 2008

    I am recently diagnosed with invasive tubular carcinoma in the right breast and am awaiting lumpectomy on the 25th followed by rads. The surgeon mentioned a possibility of hormone therapy for me. I was really bummed because hubby and I were thinking of trying for a second child next year. I see that some of you only took hormone drugs for a couple of years. Is that typical? I was hoping to be able to do a shorter course and not have to take it for 5 years and have my second child when my son is 10! Does rads always cause the breast to stop producing milk?

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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2008

    st -

    my understanding is that radiation will nix your milk ducts in the breast recieving treatment.

    i talked with my onc about wanting to have children, so we did an abbreviated course of the hormone suppression therapy.

    discuss your wishes with your physician - it's all negotiable ;)

    godspeed in your recovery! 

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  • shelteringtree
    shelteringtree Member Posts: 55
    edited September 2008

    Thank you mjm!

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  • gemsa
    gemsa Member Posts: 75
    edited September 2008

    Congrats on baby Henry! It is certainly a testiment that life goes on after cancer. My post cancer baby just turned one, and I remember having all of those same fears. The hard part is that it almost gets worse after the baby comes. You start thinking about what would happen if the cancer came back - would she even remember me? It's very hard. But you just have to remember that you made the right decision for you, whatever the outcome.

    Congrats again!

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  • lilith
    lilith Member Posts: 543
    edited September 2008

    OH! congratulations!!! what wonderful news!!!

    Please give a tickle for me to baby Henry.... :) and sniff that baby smell...

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  • ElkeMom09
    ElkeMom09 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2009

    I´m 44 years. I was 34 years by first DX of BC.

    Christine was borne after first DX 2001 and Paul was borne 2004.

    Claudia was borne after the second DX 2007

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  • BellydancerinNJ
    BellydancerinNJ Member Posts: 60
    edited April 2009

    These posts are so uplifting to read!  I'm 28, going through A/C now and will be on T afterwards and will be on Tamoxifen eventually.  I'm single, never had kids, and definitely want to one day when this is all over.  I'm so happy to hear that so many of you have been able to get pregnant post-BC.  I know there are no guarantees but it's wonderful to hear that it happens!

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  • survivorat28
    survivorat28 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    Its inspireng to hear people having kids after BC. I was diagnosed at 28. almost 3 years has passed and i have been trying for awhile so im glad to hear that many do have kids after. I'll try and keep up the good spirit..

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  • 2xDCIS
    2xDCIS Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2009

    I've had 2 kids post DCIS diagnosis at 38. Did lump and radiaton, no tamoxifen because I wanted to have children.When my 2nd was 6 months old, I found out I had a 2nd DCIS in the same area as the first.  Frown

    There are a number of woman who have breastfed with one functional breast.  Personally for me, breastfeeding didn't go so well, but that's a common problem in my family even for those that have 2 breasts.

    I had my first mammo about 5 months after giving birth. I'd had stopped breastfeeding by then but was still pumping a little. My oncologist pushed for me to get a mammogram (It had been almost 2 years since the last one.) I just had to pump before the appointment and they were able to find a 2nd DCIS. 

    It's hard no to worry about getting another cancer while you are pregnant.  The studies that have been done most recently seem to say that pregnancy doesn't increase your risk of another cancer but does make it harder to detect and treat. Does that make sense?  I do know a number of woman that have had post BC babies and have NOT had recurrances.

     Jilda

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  • bim29
    bim29 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2009

    Hi,

    I am new here.  I am 31 and was diagnosed with stage II, ER+/PR+/HER-2+ IDC at age 29.  I had a unilateral mastectomy, then before starting chemotherapy I underwent egg retrieval and my then-fiance (now husband) had 6 embryos cryopreserved.  I then did 4 rounds of A/C followed by 4 rounds of Taxol followed by a year of Herceptin, and am now on my 16th month of Tamoxifen.  

    Although no one can tell me what to do (or what I really want to hear for that matter!), what I'm wondering is if other women have interrupted their tamoxifen treatment to get pregnant?  I am wanting to get pregnant so badly, that the thought of waiting 3+ more years kills me!  But so does the thought of my BC recurring and having to go through all this crap again, or worse...leaving behind my baby!

    My husband is 42, and he already has 2 kids from a previous marriage (ages 6 & 8).  We want to keep the kids as close in age as possible.  Maybe I just need to hear from others who have actually gone through this (which, of course, none of my friends or family has) that I should just buck up and do what I have to do and stay on the tamoxifen for the full 5 years!  Any thoughts or suggestions???

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  • Jamie6
    Jamie6 Member Posts: 164
    edited May 2009

    Hi Bim29,

     I completely understand your dilemma.  When I asked my doc about what happens after completing Tamoxifen, I was told that I would probably be given something else to continue (like Femara or Arimidex + Lupron).  I also asked when I'd be done taking hormonal treatments, and my doc told me "I don't know".  Geez, hearing that, I was left on my own to make my own decisions.  I pretty much knew that if I wanted to get pregnant, I'd have to pass on any of these treatments and keep my fingers crossed.  I'm taking DIM right now in lieu of Tamox, because I may have a problem with Tamox for other reasons than pregnancy concerns.

    It's such a bummer that we have choose between risking life vs giving life. 

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  • mjm_va
    mjm_va Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    BM29 - talk to your doctor. my doctor and i decided that an abreviated course of tamoxifen would be sufficient, we based that decision on the individual characteristics of my cancer. as we all discover - there's no 'one size fits all' in cancer treatments.

    i got some great news in february - had my mammo and now i'm officially a 5 year survivor :)

    Henry is chattering away next to me as a type this. I think he's campaigning for a little brother...

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  • Dips
    Dips Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2009

    Hi Everyone,

    I'm so glad to hear everyone success stories, and hoping that mine will be one too.

    I was diagnosed at 2007 at age 31 had 2 kids (now 5-31/2) before BC.  Similar to everyone else we were also planning to have baby no. 3, but things went in a different direction.

    I had 6 rounds of Chemo and then Radiation and was on tomaxafin for almost a year, when I noticed my periods getting really heavy, lasting still 3-4 days maximum.

    I had a transvaginal ultrasound done just a few weeks ago and it came that the uterine wall lining was 28 MM thick.. that's very thick. After doing some reading I know it's normal to have a thicker lining of the Uterine Wall while taking Tomaxafin, but 28mm is really thick. My Family Doctor sounded really concerned, so 2 weeks ago I had a Uterine Biopsy done, I just got the results yesterday...they came back inconclusive.. not sure what that means. but I'm stuck in the same boat I was just when I found out about the lining being thick.   I really want to have another baby, my son and daughter are always asking me too... when I am going to have another baby. 

    Did anyone have a lining problem with the uterine wall while being on Tamoxafin? What did the doctor say regarding this? Am I still able to have another baby?

    Please help! - Anyone have any input????????

    Dips!

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  • Jamie6
    Jamie6 Member Posts: 164
    edited May 2009

    If 28 mm is considered thick, does anyone know what the normal thickness is supposed to be?  I'm scheduled for transvaginal ultra sound this Friday for the first time, so I'm curious about the normal range of thickness for uterus.

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