BRCA1/TNBC and wanting children?

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megala
megala Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in Genetic Testing

Hi all,

 I am a year in a half past my last chemotherapy treatment and my onc. doctor said it was okay if we wanted to try for another child (IVF). Anyone else thinking about having children after cancer and knowing they are BRCA+?

Have to have my ovaries and everything removed by age 40. OB said my increase in getting Ovarian cancer goes up from 3% to 26% when I hit 40 and I am 36 (almost 37). Anyone else in my shoes? Would anyone else do this?

I am freaking out a little. 

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited May 2012

    Megala, since your doc said it was OK, then I say for for it!

    I have a friend who had BC when she was about 30. She already had 4 children (the youngest was 3 months old at the time) and she went on to have 2 more children, she's still fine, and that "baby" is now 34 years old. The markers we test for today weren't tested then (1978) so I have no idea of her markers.

    I know there are some people who might say, "But you could pass the BRCA to your child!". Yes, you could. However, does someone with heart disease in their family have no children because they might pass that along? What about diabetes? High blood pressure? Colon cancer? There are always "bad" genes to pass on, but my own personal feeling is that it's not a consideration. My cancer is genetic (according to genetic counselor and onc) though BRCA- so my genetic material is part of ongoing research to find other genetic markers that predispose someone to BC and ovarian ca. 3 of my children have children of their own, and the others plan to eventually. I would not want them to have no kids because they were worried about this!

    Best if luck.

    Leah

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