{"id":1582,"date":"2023-05-04T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/blogue\/answers-to-your-questions-about-fertility-and-breast-cancer\/"},"modified":"2024-07-02T11:04:16","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T15:04:16","slug":"answers-to-your-questions-about-fertility-and-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/blog\/answers-to-your-questions-about-fertility-and-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers to your questions about fertility and breast cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a stressful event, which can raise a lot of questions, especially about your current and\/or future plans. If you\u2019ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer and are considering starting or expanding your family, it\u2019s normal to worry about the potential impact of the disease and its treatments on your ability to have children. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

What is the impact of breast cancer on fertility?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

It<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s important to know that breast cancer itself <\/span>doesn\u2019t<\/span> affect the ability<\/span> to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to term<\/span>; h<\/span>owever, <\/span><\/span>some breast cancer treatments can have an impact<\/span><\/span> on female and male fertility.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

For example, <\/span><\/span>hormon<\/span>e<\/span> therapy<\/span> <\/span>may be <\/span>prescribed<\/span> to <\/span>slow<\/span> the progression of breast cancer and prevent <\/span>recurr<\/span>ence<\/span>. <\/span>It<\/span> can <\/span>cause<\/span> irregular <\/span>periods <\/span>or even <\/span>stop them all tog<\/span>ether<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>resulting in<\/span> a loss of fertility during<\/span>, <\/span>and <\/span>for <\/span>a short time<\/span> after<\/span>,<\/span> treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Chemotherapy drugs<\/span><\/span> can damage the female reproductive system, reduce the quantity or quality of eggs,<\/span><\/span> affect the functioning of the testicles<\/span> and<\/span> damage sperm. This can lead to<\/span><\/span> decreased fertility<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>sometimes even<\/span><\/span> infertility<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Are the effects of treatments on fertility irreversible?\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

Fertility problems are common during chemotherapy, but menstruation and sperm production usually <\/span>resume<\/span> within a <\/span>few months to a few years after treatments<\/span> end<\/span>.<\/span> This said<\/span>,<\/span><\/span> chemotherapy<\/span><\/span> can<\/span>,<\/span> in some cases<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>irreversibly affect fertility<\/span><\/span> due to its toxicity to the ovaries and testes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The impact of this type of treatment on fertility varies from <\/span>one <\/span>person to <\/span>another<\/span> and <\/span><\/span>depends on <\/span>several<\/span><\/span> factors<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>such as gender, age, type of chemotherapy, dose received and other personal characteristics and factors.<\/span> Every person is <\/span>different,<\/span> and the impact <\/span>that <\/span>treatments<\/span> will<\/span> have on <\/span>a<\/span> their<\/span> fertility is<\/span><\/span> not always predictable.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u00a0<\/span>Is it possible to preserve fertility before treatments begin?\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

It<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s important to know <\/span><\/span>that there are options <\/span><\/span>for<\/span> preserv<\/span>ing<\/span> your fertility after a breast cancer diagnosis<\/span>; h<\/span>owever, <\/span>this<\/span> must be planned<\/span>, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>necessary measures <\/span>must be <\/span>taken <\/span><\/span>before treatment<\/span>s<\/span> begin<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>t<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s<\/span> therefore<\/span> important to <\/span><\/span>talk to your healthcare team as soon as possible<\/span><\/span> so they can take <\/span>this<\/span> into account when <\/span>arranging<\/span> your <\/span>treatments and guide you through <\/span>the process<\/span>. Depending on your plans, it<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s important to<\/span> discuss the possible impact of your treatments on your fertility<\/span>,<\/span> as well as your options for preserving it, <\/span>in order to<\/span> keep your options open.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Oncofertility<\/span><\/span> specialists<\/span> will work<\/span> with your healthcare team to <\/span>take into account<\/span> your desire to start or expand your family. The options that may be <\/span>suggested<\/span> and explained to you will also depend on <\/span>a number of<\/span> factors (including your gender, age, current fertility status, and the treatments you will receive).\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Methods <\/span>for<\/span> preserving female fertility include <\/span><\/span>storing<\/span> eggs<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>embryos or ovarian tissue<\/span><\/span> and<\/span> sometimes <\/span>using <\/span><\/span>medication<\/span> to protect the ovaries<\/span><\/span>. To preserve male reproducti<\/span>ve function<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>sperm <\/span>can be collected<\/span><\/span> and <\/span>stored<\/span> in a sperm bank <\/span>prior to<\/span> certain <\/span>types of <\/span>chemotherap<\/span>y<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Fertility during treatment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

Despite the disruption of reproductive functions caused by treatments, pregnancy is still sometimes possible. <\/span>This said<\/span>, it <\/span>remains<\/span><\/span> contraindicated during treatments<\/span><\/span>.<\/span> S<\/span>ome breast cancer treatments can pose <\/span><\/span>risks to the <\/span>fetus<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>It<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s therefore<\/span> <\/span>advisable to <\/span><\/span>maintain<\/span> an effective non-hormonal method of contraception<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>even in the absence of cycles,<\/span> for <\/span><\/span>women undergoing treatment as well as for female partners of men undergoing treatment. Your healthcare team is there to <\/span>advise<\/span> you on the <\/span>different<\/span> methods of contraception <\/span>available<\/span> and <\/span>appropriate<\/span> for<\/span> your needs, so <\/span>always feel free <\/span>to ask questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Conceiving a child after treatment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

After <\/span>you\u2019ve<\/span> stopped<\/span> active treatments, you may <\/span>(re)<\/span>start thinking about<\/span> having a baby<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Again, your<\/span> <\/span>healthcare team is <\/span>t<\/span>here to <\/span>inform<\/span> you and tell you <\/span><\/span>how long <\/span>you should<\/span> wait <\/span><\/span>before considering <\/span>having<\/span> a child<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> The decision may depend on the prognosis, the risk of recurrence, your age, <\/span>and<\/span> the treatments received.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n

Taking<\/span> a course of <\/span>hormone<\/span>s<\/span><\/span> for <\/span>several years <\/span>after treatment <\/span>is a common <\/span>add-on<\/span> therapy for premenopausal women. If this is <\/span>the<\/span> case<\/span> for you<\/span>, and you want to consider pregnancy before the end of this treatment, your healthcare team will assess<\/span> the <\/span><\/span>impact of this interruption<\/span><\/span> on the risk of recurrence.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

If you and your <\/span>oncofertility<\/span> team decide that you<\/span>\u2019<\/span>re ready to consider pregnancy, <\/span><\/span>tests can be done <\/span>to <\/span>determine<\/span> your chances of conceiving a child naturally<\/span><\/span>. It<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s important to remember that the chances of <\/span>having a child<\/span> naturally after treatment vary from one person to another.<\/span> In the event that<\/span> a natural pregnancy is not<\/span> possible<\/span> or unlikely, fertility professionals will explain your <\/span>options for <\/span>assisted reproduction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

What resources are available?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

Unfortunately, sometimes pregnancy is not possible or <\/span>very difficult<\/span>, despite fertility preservation and assisted reproduction methods. <\/span>Finding out<\/span> that <\/span>you<\/span>\u2019re<\/span> infertile<\/span>, or waiting<\/span> to find out<\/span>, can be difficult to accept and overcome. <\/span><\/span>Know that you<\/span>\u2019<\/span>re not alone.<\/span><\/span> Don<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t hesitate to ask for help<\/span> and<\/span> talk to people <\/span>who are <\/span>going through the same thing as you on our private<\/span> Facebook group,<\/span> <\/span>Parlons cancer<\/span> du sein<\/span><\/span><\/a> (mainly in<\/span><\/span> French)<\/span><\/span> or if <\/span>you<\/span>\u2019re<\/span> interested<\/span>, <\/span>to <\/span>find out<\/span> about other parenting options.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

References and <\/span>r<\/span>esources<\/span><\/p>\n\n

MUHC Reproductive Centre<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Kids after cancer: it is possible; Rossy Cancer Network<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Cancer du sein et grossesse; CHU de Qu\u00e9bec<\/span><\/span><\/a> (<\/span>in<\/span> French only)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Ressources et s<\/span>o<\/span>utien en<\/span> procr\u00e9ation assist\u00e9e<\/span><\/span><\/a> (<\/span>in<\/span> French)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a stressful event, which can raise a lot of questions, especially about your current and\/or future plans. If you\u2019ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer and are considering starting or expanding your family, it\u2019s normal to worry about the potential impact of the disease and its treatments on your ability to have children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1493,1353,1503,1529,1534,1539","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[124],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breast-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubanrose.wpbeta.vortexdev.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}