Dr gave OK to pregnancy a year after diagnosis

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Bravemama34
Bravemama34 Member Posts: 47
edited September 2017 in Young With Breast Cancer

i am almost a year into my diagnosis.  as my sig says, extensive DCIS w multifocal microinvasice IDC w one micromet.  bilateral mastectomy, chemo, radiation, ovarian suppression and AI.  i'll be done w herceptin next month.

i have a toddler boy.  before chemo we saved 7 embroys.  my onc says i can go for pregnancy anytime i want through IVF.  he said there is no study and never will be any official studies to assess risk of recurrence (except retro).  i am mildly ER + (30%) and PR neg. 

i am a physician myself.  i truly understand that it's up to me and though there are some retrospective studies, there are no for sure answers.  i'm here to ask ladies in my situation to share their stories.  what did your oncologist say? how long did you wait before pregnancy?

it's a tough one.  my dream has always been to have a big family.  i'm happy w what i have but something is certainly missing.  but can i risk it? what will my baby boy say if i risk and end up with a recurrence? is it selfish?

 

p.s. though i dont log in much, i am checking this site regularly.

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  • Bravemama34
    Bravemama34 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2017

    yes i did.  i guess it does somehow give me a certain level of comfort but u know how it is.  it's like shooting in the dark.  how do u make that decision. 

    i hope others will share experiences

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  • Abby20
    Abby20 Member Posts: 102
    edited July 2017

    I was in your place 5 years back, my pre-cancer boy was 7 mo when I diagnosed at age of 36. My clock was ticking and I wasn't willing to wait for so long. My oncologist said not before 3 years. We waited but I didn't want to do IVF, an was not comfortable taking any hormones. we tried and it happened naturally! our little princes is 1 yr old now.

    It is your life, take your precautions but also try to do what you want to do..

    Good luck

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited July 2017

    I read about someone here who went off treatment for several years to have a child and was diagnosed stage IV after giving birth, though I don'trecall the name. And it doesn't answer your question but you're young, did you have genetic testing. Are you concerned about passing the risk on to future children? No offense intended, just another thing to consider.

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  • Bravemama34
    Bravemama34 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2017

    Not sure why my signature doesn't show the full story. Maybe someone can help me. It used to have all he info. My genetic testing was negative. I actually do remember reading about a woman who found out about vine mets after going off tamoxifen and having a child. These are what I worry about

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  • SiameseX2
    SiameseX2 Member Posts: 30
    edited August 2017

    Hi Bravemama,

    What did you decide? I guess you have time to make your decision...

    I was 41 when diagnosed (with no kids), after treatment and before Tamoxifen starts, I'm looking into the possibility of freezing some eggs/embryos. My oncologist seemed to think it would be best to use 3 years down the road, because most recurrences would have happened by then. ER positive >90%.

    I'm hesitating to even do the ovarian stimulation at this point, since that might cause problems.

    Lately, I think of what will I regret the most, years down the road, knowing all the possible things that may happen. Will I regret not taking the opportunity to store them now, since it's my last chance? Will I regret doing this if I recur (it can never be known what caused recurrence)? What if I do all of this, and don't get pregnant?

    Good luck.

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  • Bravemama34
    Bravemama34 Member Posts: 47
    edited September 2017

    I just read your reply. Thank you for that. I haven't decided. I have seven embryos. I have started neratinib that was recently approved for early stage cancer. I have to take it for a year. That makes it almost 2.5 years since diagnosis. I think 3 years is reasonable. Hoping things are stable for us at that poin

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