breast cancer and infertility treatment
Has anyone out there had infertility treatment? I had envitro-fertilization, weeks of injections. I still couldn't produce enough eggs, so we didn't go any further. I'm wondering whether this is connected to my breast cancer somehow. I keep meeting women with breast cancer who also took some type of hormone treatment.
Comments
-
TaraMarie
I've often wondered the same. I had 6 months of clomid, followed by several cycles of perganol. I was diagnosed 13 years after all of that with bc. I do recall at the time (mid-1990s) that my reproductive endocronologist had presented information on links between fertility drugs and breast cancer but I seem to recall that there has been additional research which de-links it. I do know that whenever I have filled out paperwork with the surgeon or oncologist, they note that I took fertility drugs but no one has ever come out and said that it upped my risk factor. I think there is still a lot of debate on that topic. Perhaps fertility drugs would impact someone who was highly ER+/PR+ differently than someone who wasn't. I was both ER+/PR+ but was a very low positive.
-
I had treatment about ten years ago. The reason I became suspicious is because I had started having menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, irritability. My breasts were very painful, both of them, all over. Shortly after these symtoms I felt a mass in my right breast (I have always done self exams). It grew very quickly (who knows how long it was growing before I felt it). I'm no expert, but I felt this was some type of hormonal issue which catapolted the breast cancer. I also have none of the other typical reasons for developing breast cancer except one. No family history, etc. I guess the only one I had was not ever having kids. Funny thing is that I had to have envitro because I developed Toxic Shock as a teenager which ultimately destroyed my reproductive system. Since my cancer treatment, all menopause symptoms have dissappeared. I haven't been able to get my records on which drugs I took. I know there was a shot I had I think 2x per day and something else. It was a tramatic experience. I have blocked it out. I really didn't like hearing that the reason I got breast cancer was because "I'm a woman". I'm a cause and effect person. I really need to know so I can prevent the cancer from coming back. Thanks for sharing.
-
I used fertility drugs for years as an egg donor (one cycle in 2002) and as a gestational surrogate (delivered 4 gorgeous babies for 3 famiilies with a total of 8 IVF cycles from 2003-2009). I was 33 weeks pregnant with my 4th surrogate baby when I found my lump...I asked my surgeon if the fertility drugs caused my breast cancer and she quickly told me "no"...I'm still not sure that I believe her <shrug>
-
How we can inject these powerful hormones and not think they will make the body go a little wonky? We are talking about endocrine issues and endocrine driven breast cancer. Who do these doctors think they are kidding?
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team