Did you ever take Depo-Provera?
I know... I know... We hear there is no correlation between the pill/contraceptives and breast cancer. So I am trying to be specific here. This isn't to say I am not interested in other methods. I know there are risks associated with the patch and the pill. Maybe someone who's used one and knows the names better then I can google and see what they come up with.
For Depo-Provera they have rather recently found out that during the use it will cause an increase in risk. It will apparently increase your existing risk factors "with a 2.2-fold increased risk of invasive breast cancer".
They also found after it was on the market a number of years that there were issues with bone density lowering.
I took Depo-Provera from 97-01, as well as provera in a pill form a couple times after. I am currently being evaluated for massive problems in my breasts (MRI tomorrow), and keep mention of the hot spot in my arm to myself as my Dr I have been seeing thinks I am a hypochondriac due to age and me being aggitated by the symptoms I have (she's a charmer) at 31.
I guess what brought be to finding out about the connection during use was having a 'light dawns on marble head' moment last night when I realized the hot spot is where I got my injections... Nearly the majority of my breast issues increasing (i.e. the thickening, or indentations, or even the original size increase on one side) all coincide with when progesterone is rising during my monthly cycyle. I kind of put two and two together in my head and wondered if I really had four so I searched Depo-Provera Beast Cancer and blam. There is the study over and over. The most concise article I found was the one I linked above.
They've done the study showing the risk drops after discontinuing the Depo but I look back and wonder because I am full aware that when I stopped they had figured out any more than 2 years and you risked the bone issue, or the long term conception issues. Many of us who startedin 97 or 98 didn't get told it was 2 years. If anything they were likely told what I was... 5 years on, take 6-12 months off and I could go back on.
I know there appears to be a risk in younger women getting diagnosed, and that we are much more likely to be prone to invasive and/or aggressive cancer.
So as of this morning I am making this post because it has left me wondering (goodness knows I am undiagnoised as of this point but most here have one so I feel compelled to ask):
Are any of you former Depo-Provera users?
If so then how many years did you get the injections?
Were you taking them when diagnosed?
How long after stopping did you get a diagnosis?
Did you have an elevated risk prior to taking Depo-Provera?
What was your Diagnosis?
Shell
Comments
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Since I am asking I will put my post in here with the editing to come later with answers I am waiting on:
Are any of you former Depo-Provera users?
- YesIf so then how many years did you get the injections?
- Between 4 1/2-5 yearsWere you taking them when diagnosed?
- NoHow long after stopping did you get a diagnosis?
- Injections was 10 years before issues came up. Provera pills I had within the 18 months prior to the issues coming up.Did you have an elevated risk prior to taking Depo-Provera?
- I'm not sure at this time if I do or not. It's complicated and I won't know unless I end up with a Dx.What was your Diagnosis?
- Still pending. -
Yes. I took it for two or three years about seven years prior to diagnosis. I also took birth control for several years off and on. I had been off the pill two years before diagnosis. I was stage Iv at diagnosis.
Hope your test results come back cancer free. Keep us posted! -
I am a former Depo user.
I got the injections for about 2 years.
No, I was not taking them when diagnosed. I stopped taking them when I was 21.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 33 years old. Just beyond stage 3, towards 4.
And I talked with my doctors when I was diagnosed, and I let all of them know that I used to used this shot, and they said it wasn't related, that "birth control doesn't cause cancer, so many more people would have it if that were the case" To which I said, yes, so many people do have it! Plus I don't just think it's the hormones that screw us up from the shot. I think it is the abortifacient factors of the shot that contribute a great deal to increasing our risk.
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I know I'm replying to this a year after it was posted, but wanted to add my 2 cents
I took depo for about 12 years (non stop) as my dr seemed to think it was ok. After stopping depo, i was on the pill for about 2 years.
I stopped taking depo about 2 years before I was diagnosed.
I was 34 when I was diagnosed.
I have had a lot of genetic testing done to see if there was anything genetically that caused the cancer, as I had no family history, or any other increased risk of breast cancer.
They tested literally 100s of my genes that are typical to show abnormalities in breast cancer. There was NO abnormalities found in any of my genes, neg for brac.
My cancer was ER/PR positive at almost 100% for both.
I am now convinced that because of my long term use of depo that this caused the cancer (my drs will not say that was the cause) but there is nothing else in my history. And the genetic testing made it even more clear that it is not hereditary at all.
And now reading the recent studies on the link between them and a double increase risk. I am even more convinced. -
I took the Depo Provera shot from '96 to '03 or '04. I actually stopped taking the shots because I started getting migraines. A friend of mine had said that her migraines we're caused by the Depo-Provera...so I stopped taking the shots, and the migraines stopped. In 2005 my OB/GYN sent me for my very first mammogram....I had just turned 40. So...Mammogram, Ultrasound, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Porta-Cath inserted, 12 rounds if Chemotherapy (6 months), 35 Radiation treatments. All of my teeth had to be pulled because they crumbled like chalk, so...full dentures. I divorced mid chemo, lost my house, list m business, lost my car, lost everything I had worked my ass off to build for over 10 years!!!! I believe with all of my being the Depo Provera caused my breast cancer!!! I have been trying to find an attorney for over 9 years to help me get back what I lost. If anyone, anyone out there knows of someone who is FINALLY making the "Depo Makers" responsible.....I would really, really love to know about it!!!! They had a suit for bone loss...but I don't guess losing my teeth counts!!!!! Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
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Hi Izzy-
We're so sorry to hear about all of this, it sounds like you've been through so very much. We wish you the best of luck and are keeping you in our thoughts.
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