question on IVF

Options
shadowcat
shadowcat Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
question on IVF
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shadowcat
    shadowcat Member Posts: 6
    edited January 2008

    My sister was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at age 35--her first mammogram ever. We had zero family history prior. My husband and I are having difficulty trying to conceive. A doctor suggested IVF, but I have always heard to stay away from IVF due to the estrogen--especially since I have direct family history of breast cancer. Can anyone advise on this? Thanks in advance for your help.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited January 2008

    Hi Shadowcat,

    I can't offer any advice, just some references from the medical literature.  I did a search on PubMed (maintained by the National Library of Medicine, part of the NIH) using the terms "IVF" and "breast cancer": 

    This 2007 review by L. Brinton in Reproductive Medicine says results of earlier studies are conflicting, with some studies implicating IVF as breast cancer risk, and others showing no association.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17623533?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

    This 2002 paper by J. Dor et al in Fertility and Sterility provides longterm follow-up 5,026 women who underwent IVF in  between 1982 and 1996 - there were 11 cases of BC among these women, when 15 were expected based on incidence in the general population.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11821091?ordinalpos=17&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

    This 2006 paper by K. Oktay et al in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism recommends adding an aromatase inhibitor to the drug cocktail intended to induce ovulation in women who HAVE breast cancer, to retrieve eggs and fertilize them by IVF before these women undergo chemo.  The addition of an AI reduces the estrogen exposure.  I don't know whether a doctor would do this for someone like you who hasn't had BC but whose sister has.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16882752?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CalGal
    CalGal Member Posts: 469
    edited January 2008

    Shadowcat -

    Was your sister's bc hormone positive or not?  

    Has your sister considered/had the genetic (BRCA) test?

    Have you had a consultation with a fertility doctor who has a specialization in cancer patients (even though it's your sis had had bc)?

    Just some considerations ...

    CalGal 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shadowcat
    shadowcat Member Posts: 6
    edited January 2008

    Thank you both very much. The articles are very interesting, but are along the lines of what I found so far....conflicting views. My sister's breast cancer (8 years ago)was Estrogen positive. No BRCA was done. We have zero family history of Breast Cancer.  My sister (and myself prior to her being diagnosed) was on birth control for 10+ years, which we feel has contributed (again many conflicting reports) and which is why I think I should stay as far away from Hormones for IVF as possible. I just don't understand how I am always reading of cancer patients (including BC) who have IVF done prior to chemo. IF this isn't safe for me, why would doctor's recommend it for someone who themselves have been diagnosed?

    I have not been to a fertility specialist who has a specialization in cancer (dont' know of any). I have gone to a regular fertility specialist who suggested IVF, due to results after testing my husband. We are awaiting further test results with him, and I can then meet with the doctor and mention my IVF concerns. My thoughts are that he will say there is no problem for me with IVF, which is why I really want as much research as possible.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories