No Birth Control Pills Anymore Because of BC :(

susie09
susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My oncologist told me that I can never take birth control pills again. Even though, they have a very low dosage of estrogen and progesterone, he said NO. I was really upset and still am, but, I understand how we don't want any estrogen or progesterone in our bodies, even a little. And, especially since my bc is ER and PR +. So now what? Anyone run into this problem too? BC just sucs!

Comments

  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #2
    Yep........It's true
    I was on birth control injections Depo provera. My onco (Dr Charisma-Bypass) Said no way could I carry on with them, I asked him about The Pill? He told me to use Asprin...Asprin??????? he told me to trap one between my knees and keep it there......best birth control ever.
    I really don't know about that man! LOL

    Anyway, the tamoxifen is there to flush all the female hormones out, so I understand and you can't be taking hormone positive pills of any kind or they just cancel each other out. This is my understanding anyway.

    I know it Sucks! Hugs to you Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #3
    tasha_111 said:

    Yep........It's true
    I was on birth control injections Depo provera. My onco (Dr Charisma-Bypass) Said no way could I carry on with them, I asked him about The Pill? He told me to use Asprin...Asprin??????? he told me to trap one between my knees and keep it there......best birth control ever.
    I really don't know about that man! LOL

    Anyway, the tamoxifen is there to flush all the female hormones out, so I understand and you can't be taking hormone positive pills of any kind or they just cancel each other out. This is my understanding anyway.

    I know it Sucks! Hugs to you Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    I know. I hate this. It
    I know. I hate this. It isn't fair, I agree! But, we can't be on them, no matter what!
  • kichon
    kichon Member Posts: 2
    #4
    tasha_111 said:

    Yep........It's true
    I was on birth control injections Depo provera. My onco (Dr Charisma-Bypass) Said no way could I carry on with them, I asked him about The Pill? He told me to use Asprin...Asprin??????? he told me to trap one between my knees and keep it there......best birth control ever.
    I really don't know about that man! LOL

    Anyway, the tamoxifen is there to flush all the female hormones out, so I understand and you can't be taking hormone positive pills of any kind or they just cancel each other out. This is my understanding anyway.

    I know it Sucks! Hugs to you Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    WOW
    Aspirin as a form of birth control? Good to hear because i was goigng to ask my oncologist what forms of birth control there is. Does the tamoxifen make you feel nauseous? An side effects? Please help. I have to start it soon. I just had a tram flap 3 weeks ago.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #5
    Susie....
    Some possibilites you can talk to your gyn about would be an IUD (inter uterine device), a Sponge, or even having your tubes tied. You can always have them reversed if you change your mind. Because it is medically neccessary, your insurance should pay for it. The final last ditch effort (oh my gosh, I can't even think about this one!) would be abstenence!! I don't know how old you are, but if you are done with childbearing, you could also have your ovaries removed to solve the problem permanently. I am looking to have this done only because I want to reduce my risk of getting ovarian cancer. Hope this gives you some ideas to think about. :) Pammy
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #6
    Akiss4me said:

    Susie....
    Some possibilites you can talk to your gyn about would be an IUD (inter uterine device), a Sponge, or even having your tubes tied. You can always have them reversed if you change your mind. Because it is medically neccessary, your insurance should pay for it. The final last ditch effort (oh my gosh, I can't even think about this one!) would be abstenence!! I don't know how old you are, but if you are done with childbearing, you could also have your ovaries removed to solve the problem permanently. I am looking to have this done only because I want to reduce my risk of getting ovarian cancer. Hope this gives you some ideas to think about. :) Pammy

    Hi Susie
    Pammy gave you some really good ideas. When I had my first bc, my

    husband visited the doctor so that I wouldn't have to worry about it ever again.

    He took charge and I was very happy that he did! Good luck to you!

    Jeanne
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #7
    Thanks all! I wish my
    Thanks all! I wish my husband would do that too, but, I doubt that he will. But, we haven't even talked about it, so maybe. It was just so easy to just take the pill. Bc affects so many areas in our lives that you just don't realize it until you have it. :(
  • j916
    j916 Member Posts: 141
    #8
    susie09 said:

    Thanks all! I wish my
    Thanks all! I wish my husband would do that too, but, I doubt that he will. But, we haven't even talked about it, so maybe. It was just so easy to just take the pill. Bc affects so many areas in our lives that you just don't realize it until you have it. :(

    Let's see...
    vastectomy....mastectomy....vastectomy....mastectomy....

    vastectomy = local anethesia, dr's office, ice pack, some go back to work that afternoon, non disfiguring, "enhances" sexual interaction in the future

    mastectomy = general anethesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, major pain meds, multiple weeks recovery time, disfiguring, mentally taxing, typically does NOT "enhance" sexual interaction in the future...or at least not at first.

    You would think it wouldn't be a lot to ask LOL
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #9
    j916 said:

    Let's see...
    vastectomy....mastectomy....vastectomy....mastectomy....

    vastectomy = local anethesia, dr's office, ice pack, some go back to work that afternoon, non disfiguring, "enhances" sexual interaction in the future

    mastectomy = general anethesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, major pain meds, multiple weeks recovery time, disfiguring, mentally taxing, typically does NOT "enhance" sexual interaction in the future...or at least not at first.

    You would think it wouldn't be a lot to ask LOL

    I don't see the humor in a
    I don't see the humor in a man getting a vastectomy. My husband did because it was a logical choice and yes, it is physically easier on a man. But, to think it is a laughing matter is wrong. It may seem minor to you, but, it is very hard for a man to do, so, when they do have it done for their wives, I applaud them. Who are we to judge that their pain mentally or physically is any less than ours? We don't know, now do we? So, instead of laughing, maybe you should thank them.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #10
    j916 said:

    Let's see...
    vastectomy....mastectomy....vastectomy....mastectomy....

    vastectomy = local anethesia, dr's office, ice pack, some go back to work that afternoon, non disfiguring, "enhances" sexual interaction in the future

    mastectomy = general anethesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, major pain meds, multiple weeks recovery time, disfiguring, mentally taxing, typically does NOT "enhance" sexual interaction in the future...or at least not at first.

    You would think it wouldn't be a lot to ask LOL

    My husband has also gotten
    My husband has also gotten the vastectomy, and, didn't even think twice about it. I truly appreciated it and it is a huge relief for both of us. I also don't think it is trivial for a man and would never LOL about it.

    And Susie, there have been a lot of choices written here to help you. You and your spouse will find what is best for you. Being sexual with each other is still very important, but, you must take precautions. Talking to your ob/gyn would probably be a good place to start too. Good luck!
  • j916
    j916 Member Posts: 141
    #11
    survivorbc09 said:

    I don't see the humor in a
    I don't see the humor in a man getting a vastectomy. My husband did because it was a logical choice and yes, it is physically easier on a man. But, to think it is a laughing matter is wrong. It may seem minor to you, but, it is very hard for a man to do, so, when they do have it done for their wives, I applaud them. Who are we to judge that their pain mentally or physically is any less than ours? We don't know, now do we? So, instead of laughing, maybe you should thank them.

    hmmm
    laughing?

    I certainly didn't mean for my post to come off as laughing at men who have a vastectomy. I sat by my husband while he had his and gave him my undying support, babied him all weekend, brought him drinks, his favorite foods, treated him like a king, even gave him complete control over the remote for three days :)
    My point was....the concept of a husband, after seeing what their wife goes through with breast cancer, will not have a vastectomy to make things easier on both of them, seems strange to me.
    I seem to have offended you, and that certainly was not my intention.

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