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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Effect of Birth Control Pills on Breast Lumps, etc.
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Effect of Birth Control Pills on Breast Lumps, etc.
by MGJ, Jul 03, 2005 12:00AM
I'm female in my twenties, and a month ago I had an "intraduct papilloma with florid hyperplasia" and a fibroid adenoma (?) removed from my left breast.
I was hoping to start birth control (regular dosage), but my surgeon (who does not specialize in breast cancer or cancer of any kind), on his own judgment, advised me not to. He said what I had removed are "cousins to breast cancer," so was hesistant to give the okay. But because he essentially has no cancer background, he suggested I talk to an oncologist (which I tried to, but no one will answer without being their patient) or do a web search for information (for which I found inconsistent findings).
Would taking birth control hurt my healing process or bring about more lumps or other conditions to be worried about? And if it might affect the healing, what is a good amount of time to pass before taking the pill? Thank you so much; I really appreciate this.
I was hoping to start birth control (regular dosage), but my surgeon (who does not specialize in breast cancer or cancer of any kind), on his own judgment, advised me not to. He said what I had removed are "cousins to breast cancer," so was hesistant to give the okay. But because he essentially has no cancer background, he suggested I talk to an oncologist (which I tried to, but no one will answer without being their patient) or do a web search for information (for which I found inconsistent findings).
Would taking birth control hurt my healing process or bring about more lumps or other conditions to be worried about? And if it might affect the healing, what is a good amount of time to pass before taking the pill? Thank you so much; I really appreciate this.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Jul 06, 2005 12:00AM
Dear MGJ: Neither intraductal papilloma, florid hyperplasia, nor adenoma are precursers to breast cancer. They are not known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Atypical hyperplasia is a risk factor for breast cancer - and if this were the case, a hormone based therapy may not be recommended. According to recent research published by the Nurses' Health Study, ..."the pill has only a modest and temporary effect on a woman's risk of breast cancer. Women have a slightly increased risk while they're on the pill, but this subsides soon after they stop taking it. This means that overall, birth control pills exert their largest influence during the premenopausal years but have little or no effect later on..." In terms of whether the pill is right for you, you may benefit from a conversation with your gynecologist. If your breast issues are especially concerning, schedule an appointment with a medical breast specialist. These can usually be located at large academic medical centers. Without assessing all of your risk factors, it is impossible to make a recommendation.
