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In need of hearing about getting pregnant after ovarian cancer

piper_80
0 Recommendations

I am 27 and I had exploratory surgery back in March of 2008. In the surgery they found a borderline serous (sp?) tumor on my left ovary and removed both the tumor and ovary. My onocologist said I can have children and should be able to with out any help. They are seeing me every 3 months and doing a ca-125 and the fabulous fun-filled physical that comes with it. He said that scar tissue may make it difficult to get pregnant. I don't know anyone with my same situation and would like to hear of some success stories. I am as positive as I can be. I just want to hear that it can happen.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Surgery Hysterectomy Childhood cancer Counseling Adoption Pregnancy Ovarian cancer Chemotherapy Menopause Clomid Infertility

32 replies

grammy_linda

Hi Piper,
Firstly that someone so young has had to go through this, my heart goes out to you.
I can not answer the question you have asked for positive input...
what I can offer is what my mother went through, finding she was a carryed the gene mutaion and had passed it to two of her children ( my sisters).
May I suggest genetic counseling and testing prior to making any decisions? The suffering my mother went through knowing she had done this to her children was so much she could hardly bear it. Her only solice was that the two other children ( myself and brother) who had already had children were negative for the BRCA mutation.
What you want to know is if this is something you can pass on...as stats say if it is genetic in nature ( only 15-17% of OVCA are) offspring most likely have a 50-50% change of getting that same mutation ( does not mean they would get OVCA- but like my mother carry the mutation and pass it on). As it happens this mutation came into our family by a male who passed it to his children. Our stats are not normal 89-92%, but at fifth generation it is now getting less.
I know that saving an ovary for possible future child birth is a fairly new thought, and not much info to find. Just please get all of the information you can. Myriad Labs have genetic counselors available to speak to you by phone, currently they hold the exclusive rights to BRCA I and BRCA II testing in the US.
Hugs
Linda

piper_80

Thank you :) Wow! I had never heard of getting the testing done to see about passing it along. I am interested in that. I will definately be looking into that. Thank you so much for your reply.

Lexie :)

MarieBatt

I wish I could offer you what you are looking for. I pray that you will be able to have your dream come true. For me though, I had tumors on both of my ovaries. I had both ovaries and my uterus removed. Before the surgery, my husband and I saw a fertility specialist who told us that with one ovary, pregnancy is still possible, just more difficult (at the time, I didn't know the extent of the tumors). I highly reccommend seeing a fertilty specailist, they can offer a lot more information than you can imagaine! Good luck!

laughingnikki

Hi Lexie,

There is a group on here that is all about getting pregnant. I went on there because I was looking for support for my own situation, however, they were talking a lot about IVF, and they have their own three letter vocabulary (IVF, DE, ....and so on) that was very confusing for me.

However, there maybe some women on there that can really help you. Of course, I love you here and wish that I had all the answers to help. Unfortunately for me, I'm like Marie, and have lost both of my ovaries.

Just a suggestion, maybe they have some great answers for you. Perhaps this all sounds offensive. I don't know. If so, I'm sorry...not my intention!

OH WAIT, I just remembered, i had a friend years ago that lost one of her ovaries to a cyst. They did the surgery while she was pregnant to remove the ovary, well....she went for her second child and got pregnant in I think 2 months. There's some great hope!

Good luck!
Nikki

laughingnikki

I forgot to say, once you are given the green light from your doctor. I would try immediately.

My doctor told me to try after my first dx and didn't because, although i was with my husband then, we weren't married. Thought I had a lot of years......boy do I regret that. In all of this, that's the one thing I would redo, try regardless.

Just a thought,
n

piper_80

Thanks girls! I love the advice. I am so glad I joined this. It's just so nice to have other women who can somewhat relate to me. It just feels so good to be able to have people who get what you're going through. Thank you so much!

verlinda

Piper,

I had the genetic testing done this summer. (I'm 55 and was infertile; our child came through adoption, so I'm no help there!) I did test BRCA1 positive. Both my parents had cancer--Dad, lung; Mom, breast--but we think the mutation came through Dad's side. My sister and I both had ovca. Dad was one of seven; six of them died of cancer. When I called my brother with the results, his response was, "This didn't surprise you, did it?"

Being BRCA positive increases a woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer to 44%, breast to around 80%. Figures vary from various studies, but that's how they average. My sister died 2 years ago, so one reason I had the testing was to give her children and my brother's children and grandchildren more information. Since I tested positive, anyone in our family line, including cousins, can be tested for a much narrower range of genetic mutation because they know which parts of the gene strand to examine.

Hope this helps!

grammy_linda

Hi again Piper
yes Verlinda was right, the genetic testing is complete on the first one ( my sisters ins covered it-3,400., then the rest of us in the family only had to have the minimal testing at 350. each, as they were looking only for the specific mutation) again Myriad Labs can give you all of the info. One other stated a possitive BRCA I, OVCA can be ovaries breast ( 15-17%) bowel and quite a few other types of cancers, even in the males who carry, that is why I sugggest talking to a genetic counselor/getting tested. Our family primary research is at UCLA in Southern California, they share blood samples with at least 8 other research groups. Hence we chose them as where we would all do testing.
I pray you are able to have a child on informed terms and feel safe by knowing all of the facts
More Hugs
Linda

lupirob

Let me second what one of the other respondents said about obtaining genetic counseling. This is critical before proceeding with any pregnancy plans, particularly given your age when you developed the tumor. Also, I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion not only on the pregnancy issue but on your whole situation at a major academic medical center. Pregnancy is a highly estrogenated state. If, God forbid, there were any ovarian cancer cells lurking, estrogen can act like fertilizer.

grammy_linda

and so sorry forgot, if you have any family history this ( three or more)can be done at a UC system, they have complete autonomy, at you Dr (and yes any Dr can order the BRCA kit to do the blood work) it can be a matter of insurance discrimination...just a possibility...but for the protection of our other family members the UC system was a safer choice, just in case....
more hugs
Linda

piper_80

Thank you so much ladies! I haven't heard much on genetic testing. I have an appt. with my onocologist soon so I will definately ask him about having that done. I appreciate having you all who can relate to me on this. God bless!

grammy_linda

Hi Piper,
So glad to hear you are getting more info on getting genetic testing done.
I could only find one article it was at the JAMA Site (and printed below). Hope it helps, seems like the conclusion was even using fertility drugs were not enough of a risk factor to effect cancer recurrence risks! It is an old study but as I said the only one I could find...
Hugs
Linda

Abstract

Impact of infertility treatment in patients with previous history of borderline ovarian tumors: Results of a multicenter study
A. Fortin, P. Morice, A. Thoury, C. Yazbeck, S. Camatte, D. Atallah, Y. Zafrani, C. Dhainaut and P. Madelenat
Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

5055

Background: The use of infertility drugs (ID) in infertile patients treated conservatively for ovarian malignancies remains theoretically contraindicated. Few recent case reports seem to suggest that ID could be used in patients treated for a borderline ovarian tumors (BOT). The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to report the outcomes of the largest series of patients with a previous history of a BOT who underwent the use of ID. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted among centers which participate in the French National Register on In Vitro Fertilization registry to evaluate the outcomes of patients with a previous history of a BOT treated with ID. Four criteria were defined to select cases: 1. Histologic confirmation of BOT, 2. The use of a conservative surgery, 3. The use of ID and 4. A follow-up 12 months after the end of infertility treatment. Results: Thirty cases fulfilled inclusion criteria. Infertility therapy began in November 1989. Disease stages were: I (n = 20), II /III with noninvasive implants (n = 8) and unknown in 2 cases. The mean number of cycles of ovarian induction per patient was 2.6 (range,1–10). After a median follow-up of 42 months after infertility treatment, 4 recurrences were observed (all of them were borderline tumors on a remaining ovary treated by surgery alone). All patients are currently disease-free. Thirteen patients have since become pregnant. The median interval between treatment of the BOT and the use of ID is shorter in patients who relapsed compared to patients who did not (5 versus 29 months; p=.07). Conclusions: These results suggest that infertility drugs could be safely used in patients who experience infertility after conservative management of an early-stage BOT. A minimal interval should be respected between treatment of the ovarian tumor and the use of infertility drugs in order to decrease the risk of recurrence.

piper_80

Thank you! I really appreciate all of the info. I am really intrigued and want to look more into this :)

Nova

Hi Piper,

I am kind of in the same situation as you, although I'm now 33. My cancer was found at 31 during gall bladder surgery. I don't have any children, so after recovering from the surgeries (gall bladder and ovary in the following month) my doctor let us try to get pregnant on our own, while monitoring my remaining ovary. Well, I had a few cysts in the first 6 months or so after the surgery. However, all of the cysts were normal cysts from ovulation, so nothing needed to be done. After the determination that the cysts were normal, I was told to try to get pregnant again on our own for 6 months. Well, nothing happened in the 6 months, so I went back to the infertility dr. He had me try Femara for 2 months and that didn't work either. I think with me the problem is scar tissue on my tube. So, now I'm about to go through invitro - I started taking some meds last week - everything should happen during Thanksgiving. So, I'm staying very positive and I think that this will work! So, stay positive --- If need be you can try invitro, if other options don't work.

piper_80

Thank you Nova! It's so nice to have someone in the same boat as me. I am excited for you. I think everything will work out just wonderful for you guys. Maybe you'll get a visit from the ol' stork sometime next summer :) Keep me posted! I will pray for you.

Nova

Thanks so much! If you end up having to go the same route as me don't hesitate to ask me any questions..stay positive!!

sblakeley

Your story is one i know all too well. i was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 26 (while pregnant) had surgery at 16 weeks to remove the r ovary and 16cm tumor with it. And now after all that and chemo i am thinking about baby number 2.... can someone point me to the area of this site about this?? Thanks!!

lani

Hi, I am in the same boat. I have been reading your blogs and they really are an encouragement to me. I am 24 years old and just diagnosed April 2008 with Stage 1A ovarian cancer. Had my right ovary and tube taken out, and shortly after my June 2008 surgery, I went through freezing 7 unfertilized eggs, which 5 were mature. It cost me $5000 out of pocket with insurance, but they only cover the implantation part, not the meds or retrieval. I went through an org I volunteer in called www.fertilehope.org and they paid for most of my med bills ($3000-$4000) and that was amazing.

I am single, college graduate in Int'l relations, and currently work full time as an admin, while doing pre reqs for a Masters in Nursing part time. Because of my diagnosis and the importance of always having great healthcare, I have decided to go into the practice myself so I am never without benefits and money incase I need to be checked again. Also, I want to help those in gyn onc and be a Nurse Practitioner. Sorry for ranting on, but my cancer has "inspired" me to fight it and use it in a positive light like all of your wonderful women have.

Now the biggest thing on my mind is whether or not I should get pregnant on my own with a sperm donor because I am afraid that if my tumor or cancer comes back before im married or find a significant other, my dream of having a baby will be taken away.

Any advice anyone? You are all in my prayers as well and I hope this wasnt too long and boring...

Hil323

My cousin went in for a routine examine before she had her 1st baby. They found stage 1 cancer on her rt. ovary. She had the ovary removed and exploratory surgery to look for more cancer. After a year of clean CA-125s they gave her the green light to get pregnant. She had her baby, a c-section and a hysterectomy. She has never had a problem since. I know that genetic testing is a HUGE deal and something you should consider. But, whenever I play with either my aunt's daughter (my aunt passed away from the disease) or my cousin's son I can't really imagine them not having children because of a potential risk of cancer.

lani

HI. so basically your sister had the baby naturally or through fertility? that gives me soo much hope to know that many women have had babies naturally after ovarian cancer and an ovary removed. Thanks for sharing your story. what about you? Are you going through anything?

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OCNA: The Dr. Oz show will be doing a segment on ovarian cancer featuring our very own Dr. Barbara Goff. Show scheduled to air Wed., Nov. 11th.

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