Prometrium (PR) during Pregnancies and BC Diagnosis

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2aT2N0M0ERHER2Pos
2aT2N0M0ERHER2Pos Member Posts: 9
edited December 2020 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello - I'm self researching how myself a healthy 37 year old with negative gene testing and no family history can have an aggressive BC tumor. I was diagnosed last month and have 3 young daughters all under 5.5 years old. I have had complicated pregnancies and 3 C Sections with many Miscarriages before my first successful birth. I feel very lucky to have my 3 girls who are all healthy and thriving. I had to have 2 emergency cerclages to prevent loss of 2 babies from a shortened uterus and took Prometrium to promote the growth of my uterus. I am not blaming this Progesterine supplement; but can't help to think it is related in some way to my Breast Tumor. Has anyone taken Prometrium as a suppository during pregnancy? I did for my second pregnancy in 2015 for 11 weeks after an emergency cerclage and during my 3rd pregnancy in 2019 for 7 weeksafter another cerclage. Now I have a fast growing ER+ (75%) PR low positive (3%), Her2 amplified tumor that has not spread.

Any thoughts on Prometrium being a culprit or perhaps interacting with estrogen levels to promote the tumor? Or perhaps taking it gave me normal levels of Progesterone and now stopping it after pregnancies made the tumor grow fast? It doubled in size from Mach 2020 (2.1 cm) to October 2020 (4.8 cm) but likely was there in 2015 undetectable when I started Prometrium- I was diagnosed last month with IDC 4.8 cm.....any information or thoughts would be much appreciated as I plan to review with my MO and B

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  • kathabus
    kathabus Member Posts: 205
    edited December 2020

    Hi--I have a similar history. I had 2 miscarriages....then I was put on progesterone suppositories (in my first trimester) with my third pregnancy and had my first daughter.

    I proceeded to have another daughter, another miscarriage and then twin daughters. I was on progesterone with all of these pregnancies. So 3 miscarriages, 3 healthy pregnancies, 4 kids, LOL. Mine were close together, too. I had 4 kids under 4 when I had the twins.

    Also, like you....I am on the younger side. Diagnosed at 43. No family history. I know that most people don't have family history, but nonetheless. So yeah....my first thought when I was diagnosed was....that damn progesterone. That's what caused this.

    Was it that? We'll never know. I'm not going to lie....it's my hunch. At least that it contributed. I was also 33 when I had my first child. I just turned 11 when I got my period. All risk factors. Did the progesterone help things? Let's just say....absolutely not.

    I think in the beginning you focus on the why. I did, too. But then you realize....it matters only to a point. You have to start looking forward. Damnit it happened. But I focus now on....what can I do to live my healthiest life? I focus on exercise and clean eating. Clean living. What else can you really do? I hear you, though. I will tell my daughters....and women in general, quite honestly, to beware of hormone therapy of any kind.

    Did you have an oncotype test done on your tumor? I did. My score was low, so I can't say my tumor was aggressive. Even though it was not deemed as "aggressive"....quite a bit was in a lymph node though :(

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  • 2aT2N0M0ERHER2Pos
    2aT2N0M0ERHER2Pos Member Posts: 9
    edited December 2020

    Hello Kathabus, thanks for sharing your story, it helps to hear similar patterns of thinking.

    I agree I want to focus on moving forward towards a healthy lifestyle. I may be off base but I’m not so scared of what my next year looks like even though I’m in for some aggressive treatment. I am more concerned about both a recurrence and my daughters future. My thinking is that if this was caused or accelerated by the progesterone and not my genes, that somehow protects my daughters from an early diagnosis. Or at least we can have them screened early to make sure they catch it at an earlier stage than me (2a).

    Secondly - I think mainly if the progesterone causes or accelerated my tumor that after treatment I may be lower risk for recurrence because I’m. It taking the progesterone anymore and will discuss the best option for hormone therapy with my MO based on my ER+

    googling risks associated with Prometrium - and Breast Cancer is on the list of 4. Also Breast Lump is listed as a possible side effect. I’m thinking if this is the cause perhaps we can get healed and remain cancer free knowing this. Here is to hoping

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  • buttonsmachine
    buttonsmachine Member Posts: 930
    edited December 2020

    Hi there, I'm sorry you're in this situation.

    I don't know whether your hormone medications during your pregnancies had anything to do with your breast cancer, but unfortunately there are too many young ladies (20s and 30s) with no genetic abnormalities who developed breast cancers. Sometimes there's just no discernible reason, but I think you're asking a good question all the same.

    Check out the Ladies in their 30s threads. There are many young women there who are doing well and raising children. Best wishes for your next steps.

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  • kathabus
    kathabus Member Posts: 205
    edited December 2020

    Yes.....there were many shocking things I learned about breast cancer once I got it. 1 in 8 women get it. And most aren’t genetic. I think it’s like 10% are genetic. I had a hard time believing this, but you will see on these boards....many many women are like us. Now whether there are links that we haven’t discovered yet....who knows.

    Fear of recurrence is a very real thing for all of us. Connecting with other breast cancer survivors and controlling what I can are the ways I deal with it. This site has actually helped a ton!!

    Best wishes to you as you forge ahead with this. Let us know what you learn from your MO.

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