Pregnancy and Tamoxifen Use

chris1010

I am a breast cancer survivor, five years come December 31, 2005. I am using Tamoxifen and have been for almost 5 years. I have done chemo and radiation and I had 17 lymph nodes removed, so praise to God, I am alive!!!!
My question to anyone out there is this: My new husband and I are considering getting pregnant this year, before I am off of the Tamoxifen, but the only alternative that we have is for me to stop taking the medication earlier than December. Has anyone found any cases of this and that it was successful? My husband is a minister and we believe strongly that this is in God's hands and that we are to have a baby this year, but I am only human and I get a little afraid when I think of getting off the medication early to have a child and I think we have miscarried twice already. Any suggestions or places I can find research would be helpful. Thanks

martyzl

Hello Chris,

Well, I did not have to take Tamoxifen as I was not estrogen positive...
It is my understanding that after having ER+ breast cancer one is not the best candidate for pregnancy as pregancy is reliant on estrogen and ER+ breast cancer is also reliant on it... that is why one takes drugs to suppress the estrogen.

When I became pregnant- not at all expected nor planned, I called my Onc. who immediately asked me if I had been ER+, when I said no, he said he gave me his blessing. He told me that earlier the same week he'd counselled 2 other women who'd been ER+ against pregnancy...
Of course, this is current thought in the medical field... things may change at any time but...

Have you contacted your Oncologist yet to ask about this? Please do a goodly amount of research before you attempt to get pregnant. I know that several years ago during my own surgery/chemo. my husband chose me over our first pregnancy.

Be realistic, be well informed and follow your gut a bit as well.
Hopefully you will receive more guidance.

Be well,
~marty

Sharon345

It's been a while since I had my babies, put doesn't your body get a surge of estrogen when you're pregnant? That's why your hair looks better than usual and you just look better all over. Extra estrogen is the last thing you need right now.

chris1010

martyzl said:

Hello Chris,

Well, I did not have to take Tamoxifen as I was not estrogen positive...
It is my understanding that after having ER+ breast cancer one is not the best candidate for pregnancy as pregancy is reliant on estrogen and ER+ breast cancer is also reliant on it... that is why one takes drugs to suppress the estrogen.

When I became pregnant- not at all expected nor planned, I called my Onc. who immediately asked me if I had been ER+, when I said no, he said he gave me his blessing. He told me that earlier the same week he'd counselled 2 other women who'd been ER+ against pregnancy...
Of course, this is current thought in the medical field... things may change at any time but...

Have you contacted your Oncologist yet to ask about this? Please do a goodly amount of research before you attempt to get pregnant. I know that several years ago during my own surgery/chemo. my husband chose me over our first pregnancy.

Be realistic, be well informed and follow your gut a bit as well.
Hopefully you will receive more guidance.

Be well,
~marty

Thanks Martyzl

I am taking my time with this. I do have plans to meet with my oncologist (my husband and I) and we will go from there. Thanks

chris1010

Sharon345 said:

It's been a while since I had my babies, put doesn't your body get a surge of estrogen when you're pregnant? That's why your hair looks better than usual and you just look better all over. Extra estrogen is the last thing you need right now.

Thanks Sharon345.

I am taking my time.

sassysally

Chris, my first experience with bc, was at the age of 28. At that time, I was newly married and wanted children. My oncologist told me at that time, if i wanted children to not take the tamoxifen at all as once you do the possiblity of children is grim. I did not take the tamoxifen and had my son when I was thirty three. My cancer recurred at 36, then I was put on tamoxifen, and if reccured again when I was 40. At that point after many chemos, rads, surgeries etc. they put my on arimidex. I have now been on arimidex 4 yrs. I would seriously consider getting pregnant since you have been on tamoxifen. I dont feel that it would be a good thing... my doctors all warned against pregnancy and tamoxifen. My pregnancy was unexpected as chemo was to kill all my eggs. I am blessed. Please do all the research you can and then make your decision wisely. It is a personal one. I guess in my case if I had taken the tamoxifen, I would adopt, but it is a very personal decision. Good luck.

kc74

Hi Chris,
I've never posted before but wanted to give you some info and encouragement. Yes, deciding whether to become pregnant after estrogen positive breast cancer is a serious decision, but the newest research is more encouraging than you would think. Some studies show no increased risk of recurrence after pregnancy. I'm 30, was diagnosed last April, and after chemo, lumpectomy, and radiation, am currently on tamoxifen. It is definitely possible to get pregnant while on tamoxifen, in fact it's used in some countries to stimulate egg production in fertility treatment, but doctors advise against pregnancy while on it because of the chance of birth defects. My doctor wants me on tamoxifen for at least two years, then we'll regroup and talk about the possibility of pregnancy. I have a 3 year old daughter and would like another child if everything goes well. Here's some websites that have helped me as I've searched for info on the possibility: www.youngsurvival.org, www.fertilehope.org, and www.lbbc.org. The last one held a teleconference on the subject recently and it was full of great information. You might be able to get a transcript. Good luck in your decision and God bless!

newboobs

Chris, tamoxifen can cause severe birth defects - so you need to be really careful. I just finished 3 yrs on TAM and am anxious as well to try to have a baby-- I am 41 and have no children yet. But after weighing it out, we've decided to finish the TAM's 5 yrs and then try. If it's meant to be at that time, it will happen. Remember, you want to do all you can to survive so you can be a great mom! Good luck and prayers to you.

chris1010

kc74 said:

Hi Chris,
I've never posted before but wanted to give you some info and encouragement. Yes, deciding whether to become pregnant after estrogen positive breast cancer is a serious decision, but the newest research is more encouraging than you would think. Some studies show no increased risk of recurrence after pregnancy. I'm 30, was diagnosed last April, and after chemo, lumpectomy, and radiation, am currently on tamoxifen. It is definitely possible to get pregnant while on tamoxifen, in fact it's used in some countries to stimulate egg production in fertility treatment, but doctors advise against pregnancy while on it because of the chance of birth defects. My doctor wants me on tamoxifen for at least two years, then we'll regroup and talk about the possibility of pregnancy. I have a 3 year old daughter and would like another child if everything goes well. Here's some websites that have helped me as I've searched for info on the possibility: www.youngsurvival.org, www.fertilehope.org, and www.lbbc.org. The last one held a teleconference on the subject recently and it was full of great information. You might be able to get a transcript. Good luck in your decision and God bless!

Thank you so much KC74 for the websites and words of encouragement. I believe 100% that at the beginning of 2005, I was pregnant, but miscarried the baby. I know that I can get pregnant, it is just that I don't want to risk having a baby that is severly handicapped or I end up with breast cancer again and can't even be with my baby, so I am praying and fasting and weighing my options. I will visit those sites and my husband and I do have a visit in 2 weeks with my oncologist. I have already had my yearly pap and it's normal, no mass of anything, so I am researching and doing all that I can and after that I will leave it in God's hands. Thanks again and again and God bless you and your family.

Thanks

chris1010

newboobs said:

Chris, tamoxifen can cause severe birth defects - so you need to be really careful. I just finished 3 yrs on TAM and am anxious as well to try to have a baby-- I am 41 and have no children yet. But after weighing it out, we've decided to finish the TAM's 5 yrs and then try. If it's meant to be at that time, it will happen. Remember, you want to do all you can to survive so you can be a great mom! Good luck and prayers to you.

Thanks so much newboobs and sassysally. You have really given me hope and encouragment and my husband and I are staying before God with this. Thanks for all your infor. I am still doing research and will continue to in order to prepare for our trip to the doctor, but thanks and I will keep everyone updated. Thanks so much.

God bless

Coggle

It is much more important to go off the tamoxifen a few months (at least 3, 6 is better) before getting pregnant, then to finish exactly 5 years of it. Tamoxifen can cause birth defects and it takes a while to rid it all from your body. I only did two years of tamoxifen then stopped to have a baby and now I'm back on (after beautiful baby . I don't recommend this to everyone, but this was my decision to go against the doctors recommendation and stop early. My age was a factor (I was 39). So if you've already done almost 5 years and really HAVE to have a baby this year than please first get off the tamoxifen. A few months will not make much difference to your body. Five years is a guesstimate of what the latest studies show. They were doing studies that say maybe two years of tamoxifen is enough. I'm not sure if those results are out yet, but that helped me make my well researched decision.

I don't think your husband should put that type of pressure on you by thinking you have to have a baby this year, these things can take a while. You have to let your body go at it's own pace too and hurrying it can cause stress on you both. I miscarried the first pregnancy, but then got pregnant again four months later. That is very normal (miscarriage) but it can push off your plans and upset your expectations. As you say let it be in God's hands but that means no expectaions and most of all be safe and protect God's gift. Quit the Tamoxifen First!
Good luck, I know you'll be blessed.

chris1010

Coggle said:

It is much more important to go off the tamoxifen a few months (at least 3, 6 is better) before getting pregnant, then to finish exactly 5 years of it. Tamoxifen can cause birth defects and it takes a while to rid it all from your body. I only did two years of tamoxifen then stopped to have a baby and now I'm back on (after beautiful baby . I don't recommend this to everyone, but this was my decision to go against the doctors recommendation and stop early. My age was a factor (I was 39). So if you've already done almost 5 years and really HAVE to have a baby this year than please first get off the tamoxifen. A few months will not make much difference to your body. Five years is a guesstimate of what the latest studies show. They were doing studies that say maybe two years of tamoxifen is enough. I'm not sure if those results are out yet, but that helped me make my well researched decision.

I don't think your husband should put that type of pressure on you by thinking you have to have a baby this year, these things can take a while. You have to let your body go at it's own pace too and hurrying it can cause stress on you both. I miscarried the first pregnancy, but then got pregnant again four months later. That is very normal (miscarriage) but it can push off your plans and upset your expectations. As you say let it be in God's hands but that means no expectaions and most of all be safe and protect God's gift. Quit the Tamoxifen First!
Good luck, I know you'll be blessed.

Thank you so much Coggle for that advice. I considered that, but was unsure, I think that is what I was waiting for and to hear that it worked for someone else and the baby was healthy and you are fine and all. So I believe that I am ready to make a decision, thanks. Oh, Please know that my husband is not stressing me about this, he said that he wanted what I wanted and if he thought for a minute that this would harm me, he would be against it, so he is very supportive, we are just trusting God and His word. Thanks and God bless.

chris1010

Thanks to everyone and your advice and prayers. I got off the Tamoxifen in March, we got pregnant in late April and we lost the baby. My ob/gyn and oncologist have released me to try again in August, so if it is Gods will, we will try again. Thanks everyone and praise God.