Hormone Blocking Treatment

hi Emily, i am 36 now and don't have children. I did not go for IVF because we are not financially stable to pay fo it. I did not start my chemo and hormone theraphy. I was very confuse what will i do. My lump is 1mm and the result of my test after surgery is negative. If i will refuse the treatment there is possibility that the cancer will develope 10 - 20 % . My onchology told me i have a option not to go treatment because im still young. Can you give me some idea about your experience/

Thank you 

I was diagnosed with BC 6 months ago at age 31yrs and have just finished my last chemo this morning  (hurrah!). Prior to my mastectomy, I saw a fertility specialist to put a plan in place for before starting chemo as I have not had children yet. I had my mastectomy and then went through an IVF cycle with 'contributions' from my husband froze 3 embryos.

Over the months my husband and I had discussions about how we should balance my treatment with Tamoxifen with having children. We decided the best comprimise was to go onto Tamox for 2 years, then come off to try and have a child. Hopefully have a child, go back on and finish off the 5 year treatment, then try for another child. By this time I will be about 37-38yrs.

We discussed this plan with the fertility doctor and he was in full support. He thought it was a very sensible plan. I have had an initial discussion with one the oncologists (I see a different one every time!) and although they would prefer me to stay on it for 5 years straight, they felt it was reasonable to come off it after 2 years to have a child. They also said having children will not increase the risk of cancer. I am yet to discuss this plan with the most experienced oncologist. She generally is up on all the latest research so I trust her advise.

It's tempting sometimes to say forget the Tamox and just to try have a child once I've finished rad (mid-June) but I worry I'm being selfish by bringing children into the world knowing there is a risk I won't be around for them if my cancer comes back. It's very morally difficult and sometimes what the heart wants is not always what the head says is most sensible.

Few bits of info that I got from the fertility specialist: Tamox is only dangerous during the first trimester of pregnancy and that you can go back onto it after this (not sure I would take that risk), you can't breast-feed on Tamox, if you don't go into menopause you can go through another round of IVF for embryo freezing (I may choose to do this as I only got 3).

So glad I got on this forum and saw other women my age going through the same thing.

I was diagnosed with BC 6 months ago at age 31yrs and have just finished my last chemo this morning  (hurrah!). Prior to my mastectomy, I saw a fertility specialist to put a plan in place for before starting chemo as I have not had children yet. I had my mastectomy and then went through an IVF cycle with 'contributions' from my husband froze 3 embryos.

Over the months my husband and I had discussions about how we should balance my treatment with Tamoxifen with having children. We decided the best comprimise was to go onto Tamox for 2 years, then come off to try and have a child. Hopefully have a child, go back on and finish off the 5 year treatment, then try for another child. By this time I will be about 37-38yrs.

We discussed this plan with the fertility doctor and he was in full support. He thought it was a very sensible plan. I have had an initial discussion with one the oncologists (I see a different one every time!) and although they would prefer me to stay on it for 5 years straight, they felt it was reasonable to come off it after 2 years to have a child. They also said having children will not increase the risk of cancer. I am yet to discuss this plan with the most experienced oncologist. She generally is up on all the latest research so I trust her advise.

It's tempting sometimes to say forget the Tamox and just to try have a child once I've finished rad (mid-June) but I worry I'm being selfish by bringing children into the world knowing there is a risk I won't be around for them if my cancer comes back. It's very morally difficult and sometimes what the heart wants is not always what the head says is most sensible.

Few bits of info that I got from the fertility specialist: Tamox is only dangerous during the first trimester of pregnancy and that you can go back onto it after this (not sure I would take that risk), you can't breast-feed on Tamox, if you don't go into menopause you can go through another round of IVF for embryo freezing (I may choose to do this as I only got 3).

So glad I got on this forum and saw other women my age going through the same thing.

This week I finish 5 years of arimidex (femara caused my wrists to stop functioning enough to get on with life) I have experienced many of the side effects" dry mouth, aching bones in many places, headaches, dizziness, intermittent nausea to name those side effects worthy of note.   I sought dr. advice about stopping because I was unsure.   At this time I am also to start reconstruction of my right breast.      The doctor did not give me any reassurance.......I am left wondering about what comes next

hello kel06, I am not on this network  very often now by I tell you I have decided not to have Tamoxifen to avoid the serious side effects (my main concern uterine cancer and linging of the endometrial) but eveything needs to be a personal choice, none can tell you what to do....

Perhaps you can suggest your doctors to have an ultrasound every 3 or 4 months while having Tamoxifen to check for any ligning or abnormality in your uterus. It is common in other countries but not in Australia, do not ask me why...It seems to be that in here they do not invest much in prevention!!! Many oncologists do not even test your tumour markers to keep a track on that...

All the best with your path,

Leonor

Hello mimi,  look I think the easiest way to preserve your fertility is to use Zoladex while having chemo, particularly if you dont have time for preserving eggs, etc!....it is still experimental but at the moment it is showing 98% of efficacy! And as Joy K explained once you stop taking it, the effects are reversed quite rapidly. Talk to your doctors about it! I used it and the menopausal effects are reversing quickly!!

Your fertility most probably will not be affected as you are young, but it also depends the amount of drugs and cycles, type of drug (i.e. Cyclophosimide affect it the most), what I did is check medical papers to get my own opinion about everything, a good place to look at is "pubmed" and then you follow the indications, e.g you can type fertility and breast cancer and it will show the latest scientific info about it! For what I have read if your nodes were negative you are in a better position!! yeay!

All the best and please take time to think about important decisions before doing anything, that is my little advice, listen to your heart and body darlying!! And be strong!!

Hi. I am a same situation at moment. I am 31 yrs old. I had mastectomy my right breast.  The Lymph nodes were clear. But my doctor recommend me to have chemo,radio therapy, hormorne therapy for 5 yrs. cause I am young and grade 3. 

I am understand that It get so much benefit from it If I have. But It mean I am not able to have children in the future...... I am going to see gynecologist this week. but I would love to hear from other person having same situation with me.

I am from Gold coast,by the way, I would love to catch up if someone living close to here.

thanks,

happylittlevegimite, I have taken Zoladex for 5 months, not for hormones issues but to protect my ovaries while having chemo, I must be honest the side effects are quite severe, I did not suffer much from the chemo, only losing my hair (it is growing fast anyway) and I have (still) a lot of fatigue, however Zoladex made me feel as if someone has put my brain inside the microwave, that strong were the called "hot flashes" my mood changed radically and I felt quite vulnerable and uneasy. I also have read that it could affect your fertility for ever if taken during long periods.

 Talk to Jo Davis and ask her as she is having both Tamoxifen and Zoladex...All the best and think about it,

Love,

Leonor

thank you everyone for your opinions and views on hormone blocking treatment... unfortunately i don't get to see my oncologist until early January 2012. 

I have spoken to a number of people close to me (including my support person) and they seem to think at this point in time that it is absolutely silly not to be taking them. 

I feel however as though due to the fact that I am know in early menopause i do not see the point - I do not feel like a woman let alone like a normal person half the time...  Will update everyone once i have been to my oncologist.

Thank you ladies for your words & loving support

thank you everyone for your opinions and views on hormone blocking treatment... unfortunately i don't get to see my oncologist until early January 2012. 

I have spoken to a number of people close to me (including my support person) and they seem to think at this point in time that it is absolutely silly not to be taking them. 

I feel however as though due to the fact that I am know in early menopause i do not see the point - I do not feel like a woman let alone like a normal person half the time...  Will update everyone once i have been to my oncologist.

Thank you ladies for your words & loving support