Pregnancy after DCIS

epink · December 2011

Hi all,

I haven't been on the boards for a while. I had a double mast for DCIS in July 2010. I got pregnant less than 2 months later, naturally, after trying unsuccessfully for 5 years.

My DCIS was in both breasts, intermediate grade in one and low-grade in the other. I had no discernable microinvasions, but it was multi-focal. I had one fairly close margin by the chest wall, but the hospital didn't recommend radiation due to the fact that muscle tissue was in the specimen.

My team said the pregnancy was safe (i'm 40 years old, don't have the BC gene), so I gave birth to a beautiful boy named Oliver in July, almost a year to the day later after my mastectomy. My son has been surviving off of donated breast milk and is doing beautifully.

Now I suddenly find myself pregnant again and this time am freaking out. My DCIS was ER/PR Positive, and even though it was "just" DCIS, all of this estrogen can't be good for my body. I thought one child was pushing it a little...but two?

But on the other hand, it wasn't high-grade, and there were no microinvasions. The pregnancy is still early, so anything could happen, but I wondered if any of you had ever been in this predicament and if so, what did you do?

I'm confused and scared...and my poor body hasn't gotten a chance to recuperate from much of anything! But I'm also excited..so it's a weird time.

Please let me know if anyone has experienced more than one pregnancy post-DCIS.

Thank you!

Eva

mom3band1g · December 2011

I have not (had all mine before diagnosis) but couldn't read without saying congratulations! I understand your fear but just wanted to say I loved reading about your beautiful baby boy and future surprise! I love babies!

CTMOM1234 · December 2011

Congratulations!!!! I had our children in my 30s and diagnosed in early 40s, but your news is so joyous and best to focus on that than the "what ifs" of bc. You post really shows how wonderful life is after all of this!!!!

sunshinegal · December 2011

Congratulations, epink! I'm pregnant with my first.

As for your concerns, I thought there was some research suggesting that pregnancy actually had some kind of protective effect? I'm not sure where I read that, but I do recall wondering about it since my tumor was 100% ER / 100% PR. The net takeaway in my head was that pregnancy wouldn't pose a greater risk for me for recurrence. Sorry I can't help you with actual studies or references - maybe someone else can weigh in with those. Good luck!

agada · December 2011

I understand your fear but you are so lucky to have children! Count your blessings and be vigilant where your cancer is concerned.

Agada

LaurenCollins · December 2011

I am so happy to hear of this thread and of epink who had children after BMX with DCIS. Way to go, what a celebration of life and your strength! No small feat! You really are inspiring to me. What was the pregnancy like and having a baby to hold and take care of with such recent surgery (I'm thinking of the numbness, weird feelings, etc).

I was diagnosed with DCIS just as my husband and I started tring for baby #3. We put those plans on hold and now that I am a month post BMX, I am starting to ask around to think about what my future could hold. Should/Could I get pregnant again? My DCIS was in my left breast in a large area 5+cm, multi-focal, Estrogen +, and SNB showed no signs of invasive cancer. Honestly I feel like I dodged a huge bullet and am wondering how I should alter my life or if I should just try my best to get back on track? I have no treatments beyond TEs and my exchange surgery is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2012.

Any feedback on pregnany post BMX and reconstruction is so appreciated.

sunshinegal · December 2011

LaurenCollins,

While no one here can answer your question about how you should alter your life, what I can respond to is the timeline my doctors gave me for trying for kids. Basically, I needed to wait until after my 6-week follow-up appointment after my exchange surgery...and that was it. I said no to Tamoxifen (at least for now), I didn't have rads, so there was no reason physically to wait any longer than that. My exchange was in early April 2011, so by mid-May we had the "go ahead" and I got pregnant in August. What are your doctors saying?

I had a single mx, not double, and in some ways perhaps that makes pregnancy a bit stranger? I have one breast that is growing like crazy while the other reconstructed one is still a perky small-C cup. :-P

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

LaurenCollins · December 2011

sunshinegal, thanks so much for your post. It is so nice to hear that you are pregnant after bc and doing well. You must be due in April/May. Our bodies are amazing, and I bet you will be able to breastfeed your baby pretty well on just one. I will miss that if I have another child.

My doctors have given me the go ahead after the exchange surgery, but I need to firm up if that means right away or not.

I do want to also hear from others about what it is like to be a mom to a newborn after BMX with TE/implants. Right now I miss holding, squeezing, playing with my 2 young children, that I wonder if/when this sensitivity goes away, or when you learn to live with the new you? Having a newborn is so physically demanding (even without being able to breastfeed), I wonder if that's OK. I can't wait until the exchange surgery so I can start to begin life again in my new body and learn to be comfortable physically with my new chest. Right now I am not in pain, just discomfort, and I shrug away and get so nervous when something/one comes toward my chest. I hate that reaction. I want a huge hug and to roughhouse again with my kids...

epink · December 2011

Hi LaurenCollins,

I just realized we're both in NYC....

I posted a very long reply to your mail last week, and for some reason it disappeared, so I'm trying again.

I am heartened to hear your doctors gave you the go ahead for pregnancy. But it's so strange to me that it's so subjective--mine are very vague this time around. They are basically saying, "well, you should be fine, but we really don't know, because you didn't wait long post-mastectomy." It's scary to me, especially with the close margins from my BMX. But I guess I have to trust in something--might as well be them, even in their vagueness.

I would DEFINITELY wait until you heal post-BMX. My pregnancy was very difficult--no complications really, but I think my body was still in shock from the BMX, which I had only had two months prior by the time I got pregnant. But by the time I gave birth, I had healed from that, so it wasn't an issue holding my son, etc. But I had not been able to start the reconstruction yet, which I had 6 weeks after I gave birth. I wanted to do it that soon just to get it over with, but looking back, it was the wrong decision. It was difficult, obviously, to not be able to hold Oliver, to deal with the healing, etc. I tried for natural childbirth, but ended up with a C-Section, so it was a string of surgeries...my final reconstruction was Nov 22, and because of this most recent pregnancy and my immune system compromised as a result of it, I had post-surgical healing issues that have been very difficult to deal with. None of them fun anyway, but very challenging when you are caring for an infant.

So I would definitely say wait until you are healed from everything.

I am glad I went ahead with a BMX (I thought the left side was prophylactic, as no mammo or MRI had shown DCIS, but they found it in the tissue post-surgery and it was medium-grade, so I am convinced I saved my life) but it has been devasting for me to not breastfeed. As I said, I've been getting breast milk donations, and Oliver has been thriving from them. So there is always a way, even though it's a challenge.

I'm still in shock from this recent pregnancy and still talking to doctors, etc to make sure my body can even handle another pregnancy after so many surgeries, a birth in July, etc. I get worried about messing with fate too much--sort of like my hormones need to quiet down a bit and get used to not attacking me. But as long as it is safe, I am excited about it.

Sunshinegal--congratulations!! So wonderful to hear!

Happy holidays to everyone...

Best,

EPink

sunshinegal · December 2011

Wow - epink - kudos on surviving your first pregnancy! I can't imagine having gotten pregnant 2 months after my mx, then dealing with reconstruction with a newborn. You deserve an award of some kind!

Thanks for the well wishes! We are very excited, and although I am stressed out at thinking about how we're going to financially make this work, if I put everything in perspective I should be grateful that it's "just" money we're concerned about, and not my health.

LaurenCollins · April 2012

EPink and others mamas,

I wanted to post here again. I am 5 weeks post exchange and feel great, like my new foobs, and am back to a normal life without cancer or my breasts coming to mind every second. Actually, what comes to mind now is that I am pregnant! I can't say I don't know how this happened, but it was way too easy. I did have the conversation with all of my doctors (OBGYN, PS, BS) before thinking about getting pregnant and they were all on board with the idea, so that's reassuring. But, I am nervous that it is just so soon after all of this trama. I am happy (this will be #3), but nervous for all of the MORE changes to my body -- just when I thought I could get back into some cute clothes! I also worry about all of the hormones with pregnancy (my DCIS was estrogen positive, but I had no node involvement).

How did you get breastmilk donations? Sounds like a great idea. Were you depressed about not being able to breastfeed? Since you are pregnant again, how is your body handling pregnancy post-reconstruction?

Just wanted to reach out to any of you that are pregnant or had a child after BC.

Lauren

Faith26 · February 2013

Hello, I'm new to this site I have a few questions and hope I get an honest answer. I was diagnosed with DCIS 3 years ago. I had a lump/radiation and take tamoxifen. I would like to have another child but my doctor told me not to because it's a strong possibility that I could end up with invasive breast cancer. Was anyone told not to get pregnant due to he risk factor

of developing breast cancer?

Lauren3136 · January 2018

Hi, was your DCIS invasive!

Because I had the same situation like yours. Negative on lymph nodes but very close to the margin, so no chemo or radiation. I wanna have a baby and my doctor says don’t take the risk! Now I wanna do IVF but still worried

Linikjoo · February 2018

Hello Eva

I was reading your post blc I find myself in your situation now. I had dcis last year in sept 2016. Had both breast removed. Now I want to have another baby but everyone is telling me a different story. I’m just worrie if I do have another one will the cancerous come back. I wanted to see from your experience what happ Blc all the those hormon is everthibg going ok. Any feedback would be grea

Linikjoo · February 2018

Hello Lauren

I just want to reach out to see how everything worked out. I had dcis and removed my breast I want to have a 3rd baby but worry cancer might come back any feedback would be great pls

Pregnancy after DCIS

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