* The early diagnosis of breast cancer, along with the older age at which women are deciding to have children, means more and more women are wanting to have children after beating the condition.
When a woman who has recovered from breast cancer wants to become a mother, it’s normal for her to want to ask lots of questions: Is it possible? Are there certain conditions? What risks am I exposed to during pregnancy? What are the risks to the baby? At HC Marbella we provide women with the necessary information, important under these circumstances.
Experts from the AECC (Spanish Association Against Cancer) are cautious when discussing this: “At the moment scientific data is limited,” however, they do say, “It has been observed that pregnancy does not appear to negatively affect the prognosis in women who have previously had breast cancer.”
Until a few years ago, the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy meant that the majority of women who had gone through the experience could not be parents, at least not with their own eggs.
In fact, some breast cancer treatment can affect a woman’s fertility. For example, breast cancer chemotherapy can stop the productive phase of the ovaries, which can sometimes cause immediate or delayed infertility. Even so, many women can become pregnant after treatment.
The best time to speak with your doctor about fertility is before starting breast cancer treatment. The Fertility Unit at HC Marbella provides fertility preservation programmes for oncological reasons. These programmes help oncology patients to look forward with optimism, knowing that becoming a mother, as well as a full recovery, may be possible.
Good news for all those women who wish to become mothers after surviving a breast cancer diagnosis… Pregnancy does NOT increase the risk of recurrence, as long as treatment has been completed.
A retrospective study carried out by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting, has ruled out that women who become pregnant after overcoming breast cancer have a higher risk of recurrence, or death, even in oestrogen-receptor-positive tumours. As Erica L. Mayer, director of the research, explains, “This data gives breast cancer survivors, who have a baby after being diagnosed with a tumour, peace of mind.”
Doctors do not have a precise answer to this question, although in general we are talking about a minimum of one to two years after finishing treatment (including the period of hormone therapy if it was required). But, as recommended by the AECC, every woman should “consult their oncologist to assess their case individually.”
There is no evidence that having had breast cancer has any direct effect on the baby. Researchers have observed that there is no increase in the rate of congenital birth defects or long-term health problems in children born to mothers who have suffered from breast cancer.
If you undergo breast surgery, radiotherapy, or both, there is a chance you may have problems breastfeeding with the treated breast. Studies have shown a decrease in milk production in the breast which has undergone surgery and treatment, as well as structural changes which can cause pain when feeding the baby, or difficulty with the baby latching on. Even so, many women are able to breastfeed their baby.
If still taking medication to treat breast cancer (such as hormone therapy), it is very important to consult your doctor before breastfeeding your baby. Some drugs can enter breast milk and could affect your baby.
If you have had breast cancer and are considering having children, you must speak to your doctor about how treatment may affect your chances of becoming pregnant. This conversation must include the risk of cancer returning as well as the planning of the pregnancy.
* Speak to us about your case. In Spain, our Oncologists and Specialist Consultants are leaders in their field and recognised throughout Europe. They work together as a coordinated team, in multidisciplinary committees, dedicated to obtaining the best results for you.
March 27, 2019
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