Hormone receptive cancer and potential to avoid tamoxifen

Hi there, I don't have personal experience around starting a family, but just to say that there are lots of women out there facing concerns around having children, how treatment affects that and parenting.

There are some great groups where you might find really good connections on facebook. Loads of discussions on there about this kind of topic. Also the charity Breast Cancer Now has groups and events for younger women, which often address fertility, pregancy, parenting and all sorts.

Re. tamoxifen: the side effects sound very scary but there are many of us who tolerate it really well. I get a few very mild hot flushes and for the first few months some nausea, but now after 9 months I barely notice it and I'm quite happy to keep taking tamoxifen. It doesn't put you into menopause and there are lots of women who take tamoxifen for a while, and then come off it for a "baby break" to start/extend their family. You are in full control of whether you take it or not so while your oncologist will give you advice you can also say "this is what I want" and do what feels best for you. Can your oncologist tell you what the percentage benefit is of you taking tamoxifen?

Lots of women under 50 face these issues so I hope you find some of them here, or maybe make connections in the groups I mentioned. All the best to you.

This is really tough!

I wanted to do the best thing possible to help prevent recurrence and after discussion, decided to go down the menopause / AI route rather than tamoxifen. But I was mid 40s and didn't want kids. Your first comment seems to suggest that you are being shallow for not wanting the body changes - if that was the real and only reason, then I would be saying don't risk not taking it you can always see how you feel on it, and there are also lots of different hormone drugs so if one isn't agreeing with you, you could change. You get used to the body changes and for me, worth it if it means I don't get cancer again.

However, the fact that you are mentioning the desire to have kids is, I think, what you should focus on. If that wasn't in the equation, then it would be a lot easier to decide.

Have you talked through options with your oncologist? You don't say how old you are - is there an option of having kids after treatment, if that will give you the best outcome?

Can I ask how old you are,  and details of your cancer apart from it being ER+? Are you young enough to take it for a few years then start a family? What percentage gain do you get from it? You can check here: breast.predict.nhs.uk/tool . If you get pregnant your oestrogen level will be much higher,  so you want to do everything possible to be clear first.  I understand the deep want to have family too though.   I had 2 miscarriages before my first daughter,  and another one before my second as I was in my late 30's to early 40's, and it is a constant longing.  0ur type of cancer is more likely to return after 5 years,  but the tamoxifen or hormone blockers give protection beyond the time we finish,  and new treatments are coming along all the time. 

It really is a tough one,  but I'd say to research the pros and cons well so that you're happy with what you choose. Xxx