(38) Breast Cancer
Life after breast cancer - Contraception and Fertility
I’ve had breast cancer treatment. Can I still take the contraceptive pill?
This will depend on a number of factors, for example, the type of breast cancer you have had and whether it was oestrogen dependent.
It may be advisable for you to use a form of contraception that doesn’t involve hormones, for example, condoms. Check with your oncologist or breast care nurse.
Will taking the Pill after having breast cancer increase the chances of it returning?
There is no clear evidence to support this but your doctor may advise you against taking the Pill because of its hormone content depending on the type of breast cancer you have.
How soon after my breast cancer treatment is finished can I try to get pregnant?
That depends on the treatment you have had and should be discussed with your oncologist.
Chemotherapy can cause your periods to stop for a while or permanently, which can interfere with fertility. Usually, women are advised to wait around two years after completing treatment before trying to conceive. But many hormone therapies are taken for five years and it is not advisable to get pregnant while you are on these. For some couples, it is important to balance the desire to have children with the risk of the cancer coming back.
