It is safe for women with hormone-positive breast cancer to take a break from hormone therapy to try for a pregnancy, according to a recent study. Hormone therapy drugs are commonly used to reduce the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body or block their interaction with cancer cells that promote growth. However, these drugs cannot be taken during pregnancy as they can cause birth defects. For women of reproductive age who have had hormone-positive breast cancer and want to have a child, waiting for five to ten years for hormone therapy to end may not be feasible. This is especially true for younger breast cancer patients who are concerned about the effect of treatments on fertility. Tamoxifen is recommended for premenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer, but there is a reduced willingness to start or stick to the drug in this age group. In 2023, more than 30,000 U.S. women aged 20 to 44 are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Source: Science News