treating cyst with birth control

special123
special123 Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I haven't posted in a while...to catch everyone up, I finished my 4th and last round of chemo about a month ago. I am still waiting for my hair to grow back - - - haven't seen any stubble yet. I do so miss my hair.

Here is my question... before I found my way to my current doctor, I saw the gynecologic oncologist who removed my right ovary and said it was a borderline tumor. When I went to him with the left ovary enlarged, he put me on birth control pills to see if it was a "functional cyst" that would shrink. Of course it did not and because of his lack of concern I did find my current doctor who removed the left ovary and diagnosed me with stage 1. Since I had a history of borderline tumor, how safe was it for me to take birth control pills? I have searched the web and can't find any info.

Thanks!
Special123

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Need to know which one
    Not all of us have estrogen sensitive tumors. You should ask if a test was run when you had the surgery on that pathology of your tumor. If yours is positive then you might get good results with an "anti estrogen" pill if needed later. Other glands produce some estrogen so even if you had not taken the birth control pills, your body would have had it present. I took the anti estrogen Femara for 11 months and it slowed the cancer down so I had a nice long vacation from chemo. I am Stage IV. Saundra
  • Mawty
    Mawty Member Posts: 133
    #3
    saundra said:

    Need to know which one
    Not all of us have estrogen sensitive tumors. You should ask if a test was run when you had the surgery on that pathology of your tumor. If yours is positive then you might get good results with an "anti estrogen" pill if needed later. Other glands produce some estrogen so even if you had not taken the birth control pills, your body would have had it present. I took the anti estrogen Femara for 11 months and it slowed the cancer down so I had a nice long vacation from chemo. I am Stage IV. Saundra

    Femara
    Saundra, I've been on Femara for about 3 months now and I'm tired much of the time and have muscle soreness in one of my legs and my fingers all feel like I have arthritis. Do these symptoms sound similar to your side effects? My oncologist doesn't believe the tiredness is due to the Femara -- just all the chemo and surgery. Just curious.

    Marty
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    Mawty said:

    Femara
    Saundra, I've been on Femara for about 3 months now and I'm tired much of the time and have muscle soreness in one of my legs and my fingers all feel like I have arthritis. Do these symptoms sound similar to your side effects? My oncologist doesn't believe the tiredness is due to the Femara -- just all the chemo and surgery. Just curious.

    Marty

    Marty
    No, I only had lots of hot flashes. Being 71, I have lots of aches anyway. Saundra
  • Mawty
    Mawty Member Posts: 133
    #5
    saundra said:

    Marty
    No, I only had lots of hot flashes. Being 71, I have lots of aches anyway. Saundra

    Saundra
    Thanks. I haven't had one hot flash! Boy, we ARE all different! :-) Onward and upward.

    Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25: 4,5 NLT

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