I had to take prednisone by intramuscular injection until I was through my first trimester. That is longer than most, but my doctor was very cautious. I think at some point, I switched to suppositories. As I understand it, cancers that are hormone-sensitive are usually sensitive to estrogen compounds, but I'm not entirely sure.

I don't necessarily think the IVF is what may have played a part if hormones did at all...but I feel that they did in my gut. For example, if I had "the perfect storm" of things happening, such as genetic predisposition, recurrent trauma to the tongue, then add the hormones into the picture...who knows, but I hope we do know some day. Obviously, of all the women I know that were diagnosed and treated perinatally, I was the only one that I know of that had IVF and it was only one cycle. I know several women who have undergone several cycles. Plus, the meds they give depend on what is causing the infertility. In my case, I was ovulating fine, but I had a blocked tube its entrance due to left over tissue after my first pregnancy.

Thanks Sally Anne,

Starting accupuncture first- if it doesn't happen by end of summer then I'm moving on to the eggs. Here is to the summer of love

KATE

My gut is that my pregnancies advanced my cancer, don't know why, just a feeling.

I have 3 daughters, the first two are 21 months apart and the 2nd two are 27 months apart. It was after having my 2nd I started noticing having subtle symptoms of fatigue and occasional ear pain. When I was pregnant with #3 I had a lot of "flare ups" yet all the while under the care of my pcp, ob/gyn and seeing the dentists every few months because I getting dental work done. I was either pregnant or nursing from 2004 til the day i was diagnosed. Oh and my first 2 were clomid babies, the 3rd one was a pleasant surprise!

I asked the dr why was I so advanced for having hardly any real noticeable symtpoms

Ugh...push the wrong key.....

The dr said the cancer could have progressed really quickly due to all the hormones but suspected I must have had cancer after having my 2nd child.

I secretly would love the idea of having another little one however I was told chances are I wouldn't be able to plus I had an IUD put in place once I was diagnosed not knowing that the drs would put me on chemo that had a high possibility of making me sterile. It would be a miracle baby if I were to get pregnant though!

Kate - hope you have fun making that baby, can't wait to say congrats on your bundle of joy!

Kate,

I wish you all the best in your journey into motherhood again! Who knew when we were younger that getting pregnant would/could be so technical for some of us.

Please keep us posted. I've got all of my fingers, toes, and eyelashes crossed for you!

xo,
Kerri

Good Luke to both of you! Misskate and sallyanne!

oh thank you! Well despite all the chemo I'm not having fertility probs just miscarriages.- yay. Which at 39 is probably to be expected. Chemo doesn't actually sterilize you but can bring on early menopause and there is a 50% chance of that happening.
So I got lucky. That is what my fertility doc said anyway. Well come September if I'm not having luck tapping into my freezer supply.
Everything looks good though for trying au naturalle.

Thanks so much for the well wishes and happy baby thoughts.
Sure would be nice to have a non dramatic health situation in that department!
XOXOX K

Kate,
Good luck to you!! I think that you are very smart with your plan. I look forward to a triumphant new mommy post!!
Have fun this summer!! Thinking all good thoughts for you!!
Sally

Your dr is right, chemo can cause you to go in early menopause but depending on the chemo name, dose and length such as platinum based chemos, it can cause sterility as well. Being an oncology nurse I was very aware of what I was facing, I had two different types of platinum based chemos during my treatment and was asked beforehand if we wanted to do anything before treatment began to preserve eggs for future children. I just had my little one and my mind set was on trying to live so I said no! Lol. That's okay, I'm thankful for what I have and if it's meant to happen then it will.

I pray you are able to hold on to the next little bean and that it attaches and grows to be a beautiful little baby for you to hold onto. Wishing you all the positive baby vibes!!!!