Contraceptive Pill

Doin'it

Wondering how many of you girls have taken the contraceptive pill long term. I did & can’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with my breast cancer 

Afraser

I took it for a long time and no I don’t think it contributed. We often can spend fruitless time wondering what if. There are some potential triggers we can link with cancer, but actual causes are much harder. If smoking automatically caused lung cancer, every long term smoker would get it and non smokers never would. Which is not the case. A combination of triggers may make bc more likely in some people than others, but it’s difficult stuff to work out. Recent research indicates that the odds on pure bad luck are greater. You may never know what the trigger was, which is why we need to prioritise our energies for getting it out and over! Best wishes.

Doin'it

Great reply, thanks @Afraser x

LMK74

Hi @JenniA, I'm 44 and I was on the pill since the age of 16 until February last year when I was diagnosed. I was told to stop it immediately as I'm er+. My oncologist said it could have been that but no way to tell. I have no family history of breast cancer.

Doin'it

Makes you wonder hey @LMK74

LMK74

@JenniA, it sure does.

Kattykit

On the flip side, I never took the pill, I had my tubes tied at 28, yet here I am.

tigerbeth

Yes I was @JenniA but I believe I was on a lower dose for a long time !
Who knows !
Guess we will never know !!

Doin'it

I guess I just wanted to discuss it, knowing I wouldn’t find an answer. Sometimes things go through your mind & it’s good to be able to spit them out xx

kmakm

And that's one of this forum's specialties!

Brenda5

I was still on it at 53 when diagnosed. My doctor said stop it immediately the cancer is feeding on it. My periods also stopped immediately. Full on menopause right through treatment and hormone therapy. It's not fun.

Vangirl

My mum didnt take the pill, had 4 kids and breast fed them all, both of which are meant to be protective. I don't have kids but had periods start at 14 (ie not too young), and went through premature menopause (pre cancer), both of which should have been protective even though I took the pill. Both of us were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45. Probably genes involved (not the known ones, as I have been tested). 

I stopped taking the pill as soon as I knew my cancer was hormone receptive. My surgeon concurred with that decision although she said the low dose of hormones from the pill would not have made much difference.

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primek

I was on tbe pill for 11 years. So 20 years off before developing bc. I ensured no HRT etc through menopause due to family risk. Made no difference. I know tbe pill can be a protective factor against ovarian cancer so go figure.
I think the risk is only if you have breast cancer as it provides estrogen. It is not the estrogen that causes the  cancer just a mutated cell your body doesn't recognise as abnormal.