If you dream of having a baby during breast cancer treatment... how can you preserve your fertility?

It's normal to feel like your whole world has come crashing down when you're diagnosed with breast cancer. At that moment, all you can think about is how to get over this disease as soon as possible. But, in the midst of all this, we also need to talk about your hopes of becoming a mother in the future. Because some of the cancer treatments you receive can affect your fertility, which is your ability to conceive a child. So the most important thing is to be informed and make a wise decision, without panicking about this.

How do cancer treatments affect fertility?

Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the main treatments for breast cancer. Both of these may have some impact on your fertility. Let's take a look at how that might work.

Side effects of chemotherapy

Simply put, chemotherapy is a powerful drug that kills cancer cells . But these drugs have a hard time recognizing not only cancer cells, but also healthy cells that divide rapidly in our bodies. The cells in your ovaries , which produce eggs, are also a type of cell that divides rapidly.

Therefore, chemotherapy can damage these cells. The extent of this damage depends on several factors:

• The type of medication you are given: Some chemo drugs are more harmful to the ovaries than others.
• Treatment duration: The longer the treatment period, the greater the effect.
• Your age: The younger someone is, the more likely their ovaries are to recover from this damage.

Side effects of radiation therapy

Radiation therapy focuses high-energy radiation beams on the breast cancer , which is much less likely to directly affect organs in the reproductive system, such as your ovaries, because they are located farther away.

However, sometimes these radiation beams can pass through very small amounts of healthy tissue on their way to the target. So while the effect may be minimal, it is often temporary.

In addition to these treatments, treatment-related fatigue, nausea , hormonal changes, and body image concerns can also lead to decreased sexual desire. It's important to talk openly with your doctor about all of these things.

What if I get pregnant during cancer treatment?

Imagine that you were expecting a baby when you were diagnosed with cancer. Or that you unexpectedly became pregnant during treatment. Don't worry. Modern medicine can safely treat both you and your unborn child.

However, your doctor may have to change the treatment plan a bit.

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy given during the first trimester of pregnancy can be harmful to the baby, so doctors usually choose to skip that period and start treatment later.
• Surgery: Surgery for breast cancer is generally safe during pregnancy. However, your surgeon will determine the best time to perform the surgery based on whether the anesthesia medications will pose a risk to the baby.

You may also have questions about breastfeeding your baby after treatment. Surgery or radiation therapy can reduce your milk supply . Also, some cancer drugs can pass into your baby's breast milk. So, talk to your doctor about breastfeeding before making a decision.

Should I postpone having a baby until after treatment is over?

One of the fears that many people have is, “Will the cancer come back if I have a baby?” Here’s something to keep in mind: There is no scientific evidence that pregnancy increases the risk of breast cancer coming back.

Some doctors may advise waiting 6 months or 2 years after treatment before trying to have a child. This is because the risk of cancer returning is highest in the first few years, so it is best to wait until that time has passed. However, this is not a rule for everyone.

If you have hormone receptor-positive cancer, you may need to take hormone therapy for 5 to 10 years. In that case, you can take treatment for a few years, talk to your doctor, and try to have a baby after stopping treatment temporarily.

What are the ways to preserve fertility?

“Okay, so what can I do to preserve my fertility?” you may be wondering. The good news is, yes, there are ways to do that. The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about this before you start cancer treatment.

Here are some of the main methods:

All of this shows that breast cancer does not mean the end of your hopes of becoming a mother in the future. The key is to not be afraid and to discuss all your concerns and hopes with your medical team.

Breast cancer, Fertility, Chemotherapy, Radiation, Pregnancy, Cryopreservation, Oocyte freezing