pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia

[donnaopal]

My 20 year old daughter had a lumpectomy two weeks ago.  The pathology report showed that she has pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia.  We understand this is a benign condition.  Our question is regarding the advisability of using oral contraceptives with this condition.  The tumor that developed appeared only 3 weeks after she started taking the birth control pill Yaz.  She discontinued the oral contraceptive within a few weeks, but the mass remained and was finally excised a year later.  Will the use of oral contraceptives put her a greater risk for recurrence of tumors?

[BalletAndWaves]

I was diagnosed with Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia (PASH) when I was 21 years old. I had been on a low dose oral contraceptive (Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo) for about three years prior to being diagnosed. I was treated by a reputable breast surgical oncologist, even though, all research shows the condition is benign.

Please keep in mind that very little is know about this rare disease. You may know just as much, or more, than I do about it. However, I'll share with you what I've learned. Like your daughter, I too stopped taking my oral contraceptives after being diagnosed. My doctor expected that this would not affect the mass considering that amount of hormones in the birth control pill is relatively insignificant in relation to the amount the female body makes naturally. Also, like your daughter, my mass remained the same size after discontinuing the pill.

To answer your question, from the reading I've done, I've found that recurrence typically occurs if the mass was not COMPLETELY excised. I have not read anything directly linking oral contraceptives and PASH. With that being said, I've been told multiple things from multiple doctors. As stated above, one doctor told me that the amount of hormones received through the oral contraceptives is fairly insignificant in comparison to the amount our bodies create naturally. If your daughter were one hormone replacement therapy, that may be a very different situation. However, I've had another surgeon tell me that if I can get by without taking the pill, that might be preferred. He understood that continuing a reliable form of birth control with other positive effects (lighter, shorter periods, less cramps...) may be more "worthwhile" than not continuing the pill based on fear of reoccurring PASH.

I hope that I might have been some help.