Breast Cancer Surgery and Pregnancy

QUESTION: I lost a breast to cancer before I was thirty, two years ago. I am
now going with a man who loves me very much, but would like to have a family.
How does my past history affect the possibility of pregnancy?
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ANSWER: Since the question may be interpreted in two ways, I'll try to answer
both questions for you. The surgery has had no effect on your ability to
become pregnant. Even with the assumption that you had chemotherapy
(anticancer medication) after the operation, your hormonal functions now may
be considered normal, and the chances of becoming pregnant are the same as
before the operation. The advisability of becoming pregnant is, however,
another important question. In pregnancy, the production and flow of the
female hormones change considerably, and their effect on the breast and cancer
change as well. While some studies show an improved outlook during pregnancy,
the risk of developing cancer in the other breast may be increased. The
possibility of recurrence depends upon a number of important factors, the size
of your first tumor, any signs of spread, the length of time between the
development of the cancer and its treatment, and the kind of tumor are all
considerations, and difficult for me to evaluate without more information. It
is important to know that should a new cancer be discovered while you are
pregnant, immediate and intense therapy would be necessary, and depending upon
the the stage of your pregnancy would expose the fetus to many risks.
However, many women in this situation carry the pregnancy to term, without
harm to the baby. While there are varying opinions amongst the experts, it is
generally advisable to wait at least three years following a course of breast
cancer treatment before trying to conceive. Since there are many factors to
take into consideration, you would be well advised to sit down with your
physician and boyfriend for a full discussion. It's the only way you can come
to the very best decision for yourself, for it is you that must make the final
choice.