Hi everyone!

I'm happy to say that my mouth is steadily improving- my first scans post rads (ended 12/27 are not until May 31.

I'm really interested in how many posts I am reading about woman who are diagnosed during pregnancy or just afterward. I was late to the game with starting a family- but had suspicious precancerous cells on my tongue for years.

Can you chime in so that we can get a collective of how many of us were diagnosed during or soon after pregnancy? Was anyone artificially stimulated with hormones?

My doctors seem fairly confident that it is fine for me to get pregnant again. We did IVF before treatment so that we could have frozen embryos, but I am now very nervous about what sounds like a real correlation between this cancer & hormones.

Thanks!
Sally

Congrats!!!!!

I have not seen any studies mentioned on here relating oral cancer and pregnancy.

If you mean for being healthy- thank you!! But if you misunderstood that I am pregnant- I am not... Just thinking about the future & looking to make a well-informed decision before we proceed- would not be until at least a full year clean.
Thanks though- you are sweet!!

I know of at least on person who was pregnant during her diabpgnosis - walknite - Angelia - she may chime in but i don't think she did IVF - no one can say for sure but since this cancer hits men an women a like (young men 20 ish) and young women who have no precursors, I'm thinking it's not hormone related. Hugs

Hi, Sallyanne.

I was diagnosed and treated for tongue cancer (non-HPV) in the middle of my pregnancy. I had no risk factors. Read my signature. I have since "met" several women through my surgeon's office, facebook, and OCF that with the very same picture.

I did have IVF to have my second child (one cycle), but I am the only one I know of in the group. I started having symptoms about 8 weeks into my pregnancy.

If you want to know my opinion, I am convinced that there is a connection for some women. Right now, doctors and scientist just don't have enough information or large enough cohort to conduct a well-designed study. I am confident that in the future, something will be determined. There are certain cancers that are hormone-sensitive.

When I asked my surgical oncologist about the possibility of having a recurrence if I were to get pregnant again, he told me that he tells his patients to go on living life and that he doesn't advise his patients to avoid hormonal therapy, such as IVF or HRT when the time comes. I don't feel comfortable taking any hormones right now and I can't foresee myself doing so in the future. That's just me trusting my gut...nothing more. If I was younger and I didn't have tough pregnancies...and we had more money, I don't think I would hesitate to have another baby, though....via IVF, I'm not so sure.

There are a lot of unknowns. I'm just so happy to hear that there are other women out there that can relate to this special situation.

BTW, my surgical oncologist has a handful of women who have been diagnosed and treated while pregnant. He said that they all have tended to do very well. Two of them went on to have more children. He said that one is 10 years out and another is 7 years out...off the top of his head. So, this is great news!

Nice meeting you, sorry it had to be here!

:)Kerri

I remember when Angelia joined, I dont think she was pregnant at that time. Angelia is expecting now.

I think Elizabeth was pregnant with her 3rd child when she went thru it.

I know that hormones are more connected to breast and ovarian uterine etc cancers. At lest that is what I have read/heard.

I had to do IVF too to freee embryos. I have just started trying again naturally. Had 2 miscarriages but am trying once more befor eI do the embryos.

When you get the embryos transferred in do they give you hormones at that point too? Is it as intense as when they do the embryo extraction phase?

I hear you with being worried about the connection between the two.
Definitely scary and I do believe there is some sort of connection.
My Drs. didn't want me to try until I was later into NED because my cancer was very aggressive.

I believe that the creation of eggs Is the most intense part of the IVF treatment- which means, in our case, that I have already been through I. But, in order to implant, they will need to manipulate a cycle which requires some (lesser) amount of artificial hormones.

Good luck to you Kate!! I'm sure it will all work out- you deserve it!!

Thanks for sharing Kerri & everyone.... So interesting!

Keep well,
Sally

My daughter was four months old when I was diagnosed. I had suspicious cells for 10 years but it did not develop into cancer until I was pregnant. I wish there was more research on this.