🔬 Upcoming Online Event: How pregnancy affects breast cancer risk
The VCCC Alliance is hosting an upcoming Monday Lunch Live exploring new research into the relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer risk. Emerging evidence shows that women who have had multiple full‑term pregnancies have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. This session will explore new findings on how pregnancy‑induced tissue‑resident memory T cells may play a protective role, helping to build our understanding of breast cancer prevention and immunology. 📅 Date: Monday 20 April 2026 ⏰ Time: 1.00–2.00pm (AEST) 💻 Format: Online 🎤 Speaker: Associate Professor Kara Britt, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre This session may be of interest to researchers, clinicians, health professionals and consumers with an interest in breast cancer prevention and emerging science. 👉Register and learn more
Newly diagnosed at 28 weeks pregnant
Hi, I’ve just been diagnosed with stage 2 tripple negative breast cancer and I’m 29 weeks pregnant. I’m struggling to find much information on stories of women who have been through this and hoping their might be women on here that could share their experience with me if they have been diagnosed whilst pregnant x
TNBC diagnosis - pregnancy related
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed 11 November 2020 with TNBC, 10cm tumor in my right breast, no lymph node spread. Specialist says that if it was graded it would be between a 2 & 3. I was 36 weeks pregnant when I noticed the small lump, which would have been in May. My baby girl was born early July. Didn’t think anything of it until it became uncomfortable due to its rapid growth. I breast feed my baby until I had to start chemo on 25 November. Just wondering if anyone out there has had the chemo, surgery and then radiation? I’ve had my second last chemo today and surgery is set for end March. It will be a mastectomy and an expander inserted under the pectoral muscle. Implant will be at least 6 months after this. Oncologist said there may be follow up chemo tablets after the radiation dependent on the pathology etc at time of surgery. Just wondering if anyone out there has a similar story?Pregnancy after breast cancer
Hello. I’m hoping to find others who have had a baby after breast cancer. How long did you stay on hormone blocking medication? And how long did it take for you to fall pregnant? As a bit of background about me. I was diagnosed in 2018, aged 32, with hormone positive breast cancer. I was treated with 18 weeks of chemo plus radiation. I’ve been on Zoladex and Exemestane since 1/2019. I was told that I should stay on the treatment for 2 years before I could have a break to have a baby. But I think I want to come off a few months sooner. I have a 4 year old, who will be at minimum 5 and a half by the time I have another, and that is if I fall pregnant straight away. I will speak to my oncologist about this, but keen to hear others experiences.
Treatment
Hi everyone I don’t know how to start this, I was diagnosed with breast in 2017 when pregnant. My baby and I went through mastectomy, chemo and radiation together because she was still in my belly when I was going through all that, thank God she came out beautifully and strong. She is 20month and a very happy girl. But now unfortunately my cancer has metastasis into my bones and liver. Having chemo again with all that comes with it. I get really stressed and frustrated. The chemo knocks me down so hard I can barely get out of bed sometimes, can’t eat and am losing so much weight.. I feel like this cancer is winning but heal no am not going down without a fight.
Pregnancy after Hormone Positive Breast Cancer
Hi, I went through my journey at age 36 after having given birth to Mr5. Since then my children’s father and I have separated and I am now dating someone new. Whilst neither of us want children my 2 pre-cancer children were both unplanned pregnancies so I know my fertility rate was rather high. Just wondering how others went with having / not having more children post-cancer journey. Did this increase the likelihood of your Cancer returning? I caught my Cancer in the very earlier stages so had lumpectomy, tamoxifen and Zoladex. If I fall pregnant now I will be classed as a High Risk pregnancy due to age and weight issues, let alone the cancer side too.
Were you, or someone you know, diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy?
Hi everyone, Researchers at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria are conducting a study to learn more about the experiences, needs and wellbeing of women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. If you were diagnosed with cancer in the last five years while you were pregnant, you may like to participate in this study. The researchers are also interested in talking to partners about their experiences. The researchers will use the information to inform future treatments and make recommendations about providing the most appropriate support for women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, their partners and the health professionals who care for these women. Who can participate? You can participate in this study if you: - Have been diagnosed with cancer while pregnant in the last five years, OR - Are the partner of someone diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. Participation is open to women and their partners across Australia. What does the study involve? Participating in the study involves telephone interview with a psychologist. This interview will take place at a time that is convenient for you during normal business hours. The interview may take 45 minutes to an hour. During this interview, you will be asked some questions about yourself, the diagnosis of cancer and your experience of the cancer treatment and maternity services you received. You will also be asked about your emotional health and wellbeing, any treatment or support you received, the information you received from health professionals, and how being diagnosed with cancer while you were pregnant impacted you and your family. The interview will be audio-recorded and later transcribed, but your responses will be confidential. Any information will be de-identified so that you cannot be identified in any publication about the study, except with your permission. How do I take part? To participate in this study or for more information about the project, go to the Study’s webpage: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CancerinPregnancy. You can also contact Michelle Sinclair, Research Assistant at the Royal Women’s Hospital by emailing Michelle.Sinclair@thewomens.org.au. Thanks very much for taking the time to consider this opportunity!
Women diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer while they are pregnant face additional challenges in their treatment and care. Dr Lesley Stafford, from the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, is doing some research on the needs of people diagnosed while they were pregnant. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant in the last five years, and had your treatment at The Royal Women’s, Monash Hospital, The Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, The Western, or The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Lesley and her team of researchers may be interested in interviewing you. Please email policy@bcna.org.au for more information.
Ovarian reserve testing + Letter to ex GP
Since my last post I decided to be proactive on the whole trying to get pregnant soon thing. I stopped Tamoxifen on the 8th of November and need to wait 3 months before trying to start a family. I had been wondering if it was a gamble to try naturally first since time is so precious in this game or if we should go straight to a specialist for help. I phoned to find out if there were any tests which could help make this decision and was happy to find out it is a simple blood test! It cost me $90 to have my AMH levels tested. I had to google what that ment.... 'Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone secreted by cells in developing egg sacs (follicles). The level of AMH in a woman's blood is generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve. AMH does not change during your menstrual cycle, so the blood sample can be taken at any time of the month - even while you are using oral contraception................An AMH test gives us some insight into the remaining quantity of eggs and number of fertile years you may have, but it cannot tell us much about the quality of those eggs.' I had the blood test last week but wont get the results till December 13th. Fingers crossed we have good enough numbers that trying naturally is an option! On a side note. While at my GP it came up in conversation that my old GP who misdiagnosed my cancer 4 times over the space of a year does not actually know that cancer was the final verdict. My new GP suggested writing a letter to her so that she is aware and wont make the same mistake with anyone else. I think this is a great idea and have been thinking about it since this all started but hesitant to begin the letter as the emotions are still pretty raw on this front. Between my first doctors appointment with boob concerns to diagnosis was a year and a half. Her oversight due to my age could have literally cost me my life if my cancer was faster growing. Talk about a terrifying thought! Pretty much I am stalling starting the letter by posting here instead. I also thought that some ladies who may not be quite at the stage yet but will be looking at pregnancy in the future might like to know about the AMH test. Well. Enough stalling. Will go and write the letter now so I can post it tomorrow. Hope I find the right words to make this GP more vigilant and proactive on the BC detection front. Will copy and past what I send her in the comments later xo
