QuestionMy mother was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 4 years ago
and since then has been understandably obsessed with my
health and risk level. I am 19 and sexually active and would like
to get birth control. I understand that I am responsible for my
reproductive health, but my mother has forbid me to get birth
control because she spoke to her oncologist about me who said
that I should not be on birth control? Is it true that birth control
will increase my risk? If so, how much?
AnswerHi Vivienne,
Thanks for the question. This is a valid concern for many women have, and the reports are split. Some will tell you it increases your risk, and some reports say it doesn't. So I can tell you what I found out, and maybe help you make a desicion.
Birth control works on hormones, mainly estrogen and progestorone. These two tell your body what to do. You produce estrogen and progestorone on your own, so the pills replace that so they can get your body to do what they want it to.
As far as breast cancer is concerned, the estrogen is what the concern is based on. Women who produce more estrogen through-out their lives are at an increased risk for breast cancer, and so it's the estrogen in the birth control that accounts for the increased risk. Now, there are a few studies that say it only increases your risk if you started your period very early, age 11 or sooner.
On the other hand, breast cancer is said to decrease your risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. So there are benifits as well as risks.
How much it increases is diffrent on every report you find. One report I found says it will increase it 60%, and yet another said it will increase by less that 25%. So there is no real answer out there for that.
But, since you are already at an increased risk because your mother had it, she, and her Dr., probably are right to be concerned. There are many things to consider though, in making your desicion. Over time, you will have many opportunities to decrease your risk, such as eating right, and if you have children someday, by breast feeding. Also, you'll want to keep up on self-exams, and mammograms.
There are alot of factors you'll want to consider in your desicion. Could you handle an unwanted pregnancy, or are you sure you want to be as safe from that as you can? Do you plan to stay on it a long time, or if your going to be on it only a short while, is the risk really that high?
This is a desicion only you and your physician can make. I understand that your mothers concerned for your health, as I would be for my own daughters, but you have to make the desicion, and doing that with a physician who knows your medical history is important. There are many types of pills on the market, and most recently pill manufacturers have started making what is called a "mini-pill", wich works the same as regular pills, but on a lower dose of hormones. Something like that may be a good option for you, and a Dr., can help with that.
And remember, there are other birth control options that you can try that don't include hormones. IUDs and Diaghrams are older birth control methods, but still effective and used today. They would help keep you protected without increasing your risk.
There are a few sites I found just doing an internet search of birth control + breast cancer. Try that and you'll find a LOT of info. One site I have trusted for many years is Dr. Greene. com, heres a link to one of his responses to the same question:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_796.html
If you want to talk it over with your mom, the best way to do that is to arm yourself with all the information you can, and assure her that you will discuss all the concerns with your own Dr., and make a good desicion for yourself.
I hope that helps answer your questions, and that you can make a good desicion for you.
Good Luck to you and Thanks. I'd be glad to help you with any other questions you have.
Drea Jean
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