Mirena Coil Treatment

Dear LolaBear,

My name is Liz, and I’m one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan support line.

Thank you for reaching out for information about your Mirena coil following your diagnosis of Stage 1 endometrial cancer.

As Macmillan is not part of the NHS, we don’t have access to your medical notes. For this reason, your treatment team are better placed to answer specific questions about your chances of remission and if that happened whether your coil could be removed.

As this treatment isn’t suitable for every woman with endometrial cancer there is limited information about length of treatment or monitoring should the Mirena coil be removed.

Generally, the Mirena coil is tolerated well for most women with very few side effects.

I hope that this information has helped at this time, please contact us whenever you need us for further information or support.

Take care.  

Liz 

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

 Ref LZD/AON

Thank you for that but I am still digging, trying to find answers. My 'team' have been vague - that's why I asked on here. I did have one answer from a nurse from the Eve Appeal and it was: 'there isn't much evidence on this as it's a relatively new treatment so the prevailing opinion is to keep the coil in, irrespective of whether you are disease free or not.' I am not happy with this as I would prefer to have the coil removed and be monitored.

My view (for what it's worth) is that if you are disease free and you have addressed the root causes of this - ie, obesity, oestrogen dominance and thinned the womb lining down, then the risk of having the coil removed is arguably lower than keeping it in. There is the risk of breast cancer the longer you keep the coil in, so it looks I will have to make a decision at some point.

No matter, I haven't even lost enough weight yet, so I will return to this issue at a later date but it is disappointing that women are not offered something alternative to surgery for early stage cancer.

Dear LolaBear

My name is Debbie, and I’m one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan support line. I can understand your wish for more information about the Mirena coil as a treatment for early stage womb cancer. Unfortunately, as you have found, there is very little information about the possible risks and benefits in this situation as it is not a commonly used treatment. We understand that it is a tricky decision to make about continuing with the coil or not. Only your own cancer treatment team can advise you about this and the possible risks and benefits in your case. Your team have full information about your cancer, and also any other medical conditions and medicines that might influence the treatment. We have some information about making treatment decisions that might be helpful to read at this time.

You mention that there is a risk of breast cancer with long term use of the Mirena coil. It is true that the risk of breast cancer is increased by a very small amount over 5 to 10 years. But your doctors will be considering any risks of the treatment against the benefits that it can have in controlling the womb cancer. They are best placed to discuss this with you.

I hope that this information has helped. You are welcome to phone us on 0808 808 0000 if you would like to. The lines are open from 8am to 8pm every day. It is often easier for us to discuss things by phone when we can get a clearer idea of the situation.

With best wishes.  

Debbie

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

 Ref DC/PN