Sad but true: In the 30- to 40-year-olds, the proportion of new cases of breast cancer increases, while it falls in all other age groups. But especially with women in their 30s, family planning is often not completed. In the past, cancer was often synonymous with the need to have a baby. However, scientific findings and improved methods in reproductive medicine provide new hope. Competence centers. The only prerequisite: The treating physicians must know early enough, as Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Singer, gynecological oncologist and head of breast health at the Vienna Women's Hospital (breastandhealth.com), explains. For after treatment with chemo and hormone therapy, the probability of getting a child in the normal way is relatively low. The earlier affected women come to a breast health center with their concerns, the higher the likelihood of having children. New opportunities. Three methods are currently used with good success:
Before chemotherapy, the ovaries are hormonally stimulated, matured follicles are removed, fertilized with the sperm of the partner and then cryopreserved, ie frozen. After successful treatment, the cycle is restored hormonally and the fertilized oocytes are used as in a normal in-vitro fertilization.
If there is no partner, the stimulated oocytes are removed and conserved unfertilized.
It is taken from ovarian tissue, which is used again after successful treatment and then stimulated hormonally, so that follicles can ripen again. Reduced risk. Of course, a certain danger means this way, since most breast tumors are hormone dependent. The increased estrogen release during pregnancy also carries a risk in itself. But much more important is the good news: New studies show that women who become pregnant after a breast cancer illness, in the long run, even a lower risk of relapse have.