Question about chemo and fertility

sheuber
sheuber Member Posts: 36
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

Hi Ladies - I have a question for you about fertility. Has anyone successfully gotten pregnant after chemo and radiation? I was diagnosed at age 32 and tried to save my eggs before starting chemo but ran out of time (as my caner was grade 3 so the oncologist recommended that I didn't wait). Now that I'm coming to the end of my treatment (with just a year of herceptin to go), I'm wondering what the chances of having a baby will be. My fertility doctor has said a women age 32 who goes through chemo will have a 60% chance of getting their periods back (the rest will be in permanent menopause). Of those of you who did get your periods back, were you able to conceive? 

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  • Alaina
    Alaina Member Posts: 461
    edited February 2011

    I'm in a slightly different situation than you.  I was 38 at diagnosis, also did not have time to harvest eggs, and was ER+ (which meant pumping me full of estrogen to harvest those eggs was a non-starter anyway).

    I also have to be on Tamoxifen for 5 years, so conceiving in my mid-40s after all this, is not looking very likely for me.

    However, you don't have the issue with Tamoxifen (being ER-), so as soon as your treatments are done, you stand a decent chance of being able to conceive, as estrogen is NOT your enemy! :-)

    Visit fertilehope.org and ysc.org (Young Survivors Coalition).  Those boards have TONS of information on this and women in your exact situation.  You may find more/additional support there!

    Good Luck!

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  • sakura73
    sakura73 Member Posts: 467
    edited February 2011

    I was 35 at diagnosis and 36 when chemo ended. I did egg harvesting and ovarian tissue preservation before chemo started (onc was fine with it although I was 99% ER+). I decided not to take Tamoxifen.

    I got my period back 6 months after chemo ended (4 months after radiation): 2 months later I was pregnant but miscarried at 3 months. Now, 16 months after chemo ended, I am pregnant again and have just had the 12 week scan. A long way to go, but things look promising. Both pregnancies occured naturally and neither was planned.  A woman from my chemo group on the boards got pregnant the same time as my first one - when she'd only just finished Herceptin - and her gorgeous baby was born safe and well last month.

    The odds are in your favour, believe me. I wish you every succcess.

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  • sheuber
    sheuber Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2011

    Alaina - thank you so much for the information and websites... I will for sure check them out!

    Sakura 73 - congratulations... that's awesome you're pregnant! Thank you for sharing how long it took to get your period back. I'm 2 months out from chemo and waiting each day for it to return. I never would have thought I'd see the day where I'm hoping for my period to come. Your story gives me so much hope... I wish all the best for you and your little one!

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  • SKD
    SKD Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2011

    Congrats Sukura and keep us posted. WIsh you all the best in health for you and the baby!

    I got my period back 5 months after chemo and I froze my eggs just in case. I am on Tamoxifen and hoping to try to have a baby some time next year!

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  • NannaBaby
    NannaBaby Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2011

    SKD - just curious... I thought it was recommended to wait 2 years for baby making? Or is that only to concieve and cary the baby?  Because of the toxins lingering?  Harvesting eggs before additional treatment is a great idea :) Thanks!

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  • Tundra
    Tundra Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2011

    Hi ladies,

     Well, this topic is cheering me up a little, thanks :-)

    It's gret to hear of some positive outcomes -- such good news Sakura 73! congrats!

    I was diagnosed the week after I turned 35, this past Fall. I too was rushed into chemo... and didn't receive information about its effect on fertility till afterI had started. 

    I tried going for an IVM, but in the end I didn't feel up for the procedure. Turns out my blood counts would have been too low for it anyway. 

    I've never been 100% sure about children, but I'd really love to have the option one day. 

    To tell you the truth, I've been pretty down this week, as I've come to the realization that my cycle has probably stopped now. It's pretty weird to deal with.

    It didn't help either, that I had a friend-of-a-friend go on a monologue last night about how "it's amazing how women can just make babies" and "you never know how easily you could become pregnant". I nearly said "well, not every woman". Oh well, I guess those issues just aren't on her radar. 

    I'm 100% ER+, so I'll probably be going on Tamoxifen too, once I'm past the other treatments, but  SKD, your plan sounds like a good one. Maybe I can put some eggs aside somewhere in there after chemo. :-) you never know.

     Well, I'm sending all of you lots of positive baby-making thoughts! ;-) take care.

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  • sakura73
    sakura73 Member Posts: 467
    edited March 2011
    • Tundra - I was 99% ER+, but on the stats I saw Tamoxifen had limited additional benefit after chemo so I turned it down because it was not worth the loss of the opportunity to conceive. I know you have a different cancer profile from me, but I would urge you to ask your onco for the stats on what women with your cancer profile, post chemo, actually get from Tamoxifen. That way you can know whether it is right for you.
    At 35 the odds of fertility returning post-chemo (from what my fertility doctor told me) are about 70%-80% so the odds are in your favour!
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  • Melanie_Ann
    Melanie_Ann Member Posts: 414
    edited March 2011

    I wanted to chime in too. I'm 26 and was presented with all sorts of options before I had surgery and started chemo. I decided against harvesting eggs b/c I am ER+/PR+, plus it was a lot of money. My ONC said I would have a 70% chance of my ovaries making a full recovery. He wants me to go on Tamoxifen when I'm done. I was not even thinking of having children at the time of diagnosis since I'm not married and currently not in a relationship so for right now it's not a big deal, but I do really want them in the future. So my ONC said that if it does become an issue here in a few years and I'm on Tamoxifen and ready to try to have a baby, he said he would be ok with taking me off early.

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  • yellow78
    yellow78 Member Posts: 82
    edited March 2011

    Hi,

    I was 31 (32 now) when I was dx and went through chemo, I ended chemo in mid november and got my period back the beginning of Feb.  I go back to my onc tomorrow to make my decision on Tamoxifen,  I have been putting it off.  Not sure what I want to do.  I already of two great kids but my husband and I may want more.  Not sure.  Jenn 

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