Young women with cancer face added trauma of fertility problems

YOUNG women diagnosed with cancer face the added trauma of fertility problems caused by the treatment of advanced forms of the illness, the Irish Cancer Society said yesterday.

Cancers that fail to be detected in the early stages can be treated by both chemotherapy and hormone therapy, which can pose a threat to fertility in women of childbearing age.

Thirty-six-year-old Kylie Minogue, who has openly spoken about an urge to have children, may have to put any plans for a family on hold as it is recommended that you do not get pregnant for a minimum of two years after a positive breast cancer diagnosis.

“When you are pregnant your hormones go into overdrive and this can increase the risk of the cancer returning. Therefore, many woman are advised to wait for at least two years after a diagnosis of breast cancer before becoming pregnant. This is because the possibility of the cancer coming back lessens over time, so that the first two years after diagnosis is when you are at the greatest risk,” said Abbie Langry, Project Leader with the Irish Cancer Society’s Action Breast Cancer (ABC).

The most up-to-date figures from the National Cancer Registry shows there were 2,020 new cases of breast cancer in Ireland in 2001 and 288 of these cases were in women under 45 years of age. Breast cancer has overtaken both lung and bowel cancer to become the second most common cancer in Ireland after non-melanoma skin cancer, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

It was revealed yesterday Kylie Minogue is due to shortly begin treatment for her cancer.

The exact type of treatment will depend on the size of her tumour.

According to Action Breast Cancer, the Australian star will need either a lumpectomy and radiotherapy to remove the tumour or a full breast removal, a masectomy, if it is situated in an awkward place or of larger size.

A lumpectomy is where the tumour is removed by a surgical incision into the breast.

Ms Minogue will also have to undergo a sentinel node biopsy to see if the cancer had spread to her lymphatic system, which is the body’s waste disposal system.

This biopsy is completed by injecting a dye into her breast to see if the cancer has spread to her underarm lymph nodes.

If a tumour is advanced, breast cancer patients can face a year of chemotherapy or hormone therapy for up to five years.

“Even if a woman needs chemotherapy or hormone therapy, it doesn’t mean that she won’t be able to have children, but there is a risk.

“For many sufferers, it means waiting longer than planned to try for children. Many young women who have advanced breast cancer go on to have children,” Ms Langtry said.

Action Breast Cancer’s freephone advice number is 1800 30 90 40.