Chemo, then babys? Please Help!

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SilverOcean
SilverOcean Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
Chemo, then babys? Please Help!
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  • SilverOcean
    SilverOcean Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2008

    I am 28 years old and I was dx on Feb 25, 08.  I'm doing really well, the waiting was the worst part (so far) I start Chemo on April 8th and then radiation when Chemo is finished.  When I first found out I had Cancer, having children didn't even cross my mind.  It was my mother that first said I need to think of getting my eggs harvested.  My cancer is genetic, my mother was 39 when she first got Cancer (she is a 2 time survivour :) ) and she went into menapose right after Chemo and she is scared it will happen to me. I talked to my Dr. about, it and he doesn't seem to be conserned thinks I should be fine, but he didn't seem sure, I don't want to harvest my eggs, I wan't to belive there is hope of normal conception after chemo, but my Dr.didn't seam to really know, and I don't have any information, 

    Has anyone out there had Chemo and then later, (after cancer) had children? is there anyone who was unable to have children after?

    I would greatly apreciate everyones help, I feel like I'm running out of time to make a disition, I don't know yet if I really want children, I just really want the choise when I'm a bit older.

    Thank you again!

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited March 2008

    Hi Silver Ocean,

    I don't really have an answer for you, but I just want to "bump" your question back up to the top of "Active Conversations" so more people can see it.

    Meanwhile, I'll look for other threads where women have talked about this before.

    Ann

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  • badbabe56
    badbabe56 Member Posts: 46
    edited March 2008

    Hi there Silver, yes there are people out there like myself who went on to have babies after chemo. I was 33 when I was diagnosed. I was told to wait 3 years after chemo till I got pregnant, well I was a little naughty and actually had my baby 3 years to the day of my mastectomy, she is now 15, her older sister was 6 weeks old when I was diagnosed and she is 18. I have been going into the chat room for about 3 years now and I do know of another mum who just contacted me to say that she too had a baby after her chemo, she had told me it was my conversation that helped her to believe that she would have another child, much to the surprise of the onc etc. So my opinion for all it is worth is believing, believe that you can and will get pregnant when the time is right. I also made a call to the anti cancer society when I was questioning whether I would be able to have children again after chemo, they should be able to connect you to people who have done so. I would also suggest you explore the alternative in freezing just in case, that way you have it covered when you decide the time is right to start a family. I hope this has helped you and I am happy to talk with you in chat and go to private chat and pass on my e_mail addy etc if you wish to talk more. I go into chat as a 18 year survivor and am happy to answer any questions you want. Hugs and will keep you in my prayers.

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  • JaneyB72
    JaneyB72 Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2008

    Hi, Silver.  You are asking really good questions, and this is a really scary issue to be dealing with on top of everything else.  I'm 35, and was actively trying to have children when I was diagnosed with BC instead.  The general medical term is "oncofertility", and there are several US cancer centers that have specialists/researchers focusing on these issues in young people. The Northwestern University fertility preservation group has some good information here:http://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/fertilitypreservation/options.cfm

    For the least invasive option, there are drugs (including Lupron) that shut down the ovaries in order to protect them during chemotherapy treatment.

    Harvesting eggs is an option for some women, though it wasn't for me because my cancer was ER+/PR+ so the hormonal surge would have been dangerous.  I believe there are some clinical trials going on for freezing eggs and/or ovaries in the US, which you might also be able to participate in if you wanted.  

    I do strongly suggest, though, that you make sure you talk to an oncologist about your options before you start chemotherapy.  If your doctor isn't as familiar with fertility preservation techniques, s/he can probably refer you to someone else, if only for a consult about this particular issue.  

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  • SilverOcean
    SilverOcean Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2008

    I can't thank you all enough! really! this site has made having cancer 100 times better! I really feel like you guys can help more then my Dr. I am going to take everyones advice and further fight to keep all my options open, and I will also keep having hope! I belive that is better then everything else! 

    Thank you again!!

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