Female cancers

[Lisa R]

I have a question for you girls if i may ask. Cause i have been thinking and worry. about this lately. Ovarian cancer runs in my family as well as breast cancer and I'm afraid that i will develope these cancers. I want to have children later in life but afraid to be unable to enjoy haveing a baby and to be able to breastfeed. Do any of you girls worry about breast or ovarian cancer?

[Harley Quinn]

P101 :arrow: VT General Hospital

[DiamondsGirl]

My mom's friend is a doctor. I don't know what she's rambling about and I haven't done my research yet, but she's (the doctor) actually offering me to take a breast cancer vaccine. I thought "what the hell" but surely if a real doctor says so, there's a logical, scientific reason behind it.

[Cloud_Strife]

I have a question for you girls if i may ask. Cause i have been thinking and worry. about this lately. Ovarian cancer runs in my family as well as breast cancer and I'm afraid that i will develope these cancers. I want to have children later in life but afraid to be unable to enjoy haveing a baby and to be able to breastfeed. Do any of you girls worry about breast or ovarian cancer?

With medical conditions and risk factors, there are some things which are modifiable and others which are non-modifiable. Things like the former include things like diet, exercises, smoking, drug-use, etc. The latter includes things like gender, age, family history, etc.

So you should try and modify what you can and avoid smoking, fatty foods, obesity and excessive alcohol intake - which have a correlation to increasing your risk of breast cancer.

In your case, you have non-modifiable risk factors of genetics working against you. There is unfortunately no means of you altering this. What is a positive thing is that you are aware of this and this allows you to screen ahead of time.

There will always be a higher chance you will have of developing these cancers compared to the general population. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you will develop these cancers at all.

Ovarian cancer typically happens in a lady's 50's. It is not usually a young person's disease, although there is no guarantee. Likewise, breast cancers usually occur in those in their 40's and over. Less than 10% of cases happen in those under this age. So if your main concern is conceiving children and breastfeeding, then this should not be a worry. The priority in concern is whether you will develop these cancers at all.

In this case, your family members who are involved with breast cancer can have genetics testing, to check if they have a genetic predisposition towards developing these cancers. In particular, there are genetic mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase chances of developing breast cancer (there are also other genes which also increase risks). If anyone does test positive, then the testing can extend to other uninvolved members, to check if there is a chance of developing these cancers in the future.

You should then also examine yourself regularly and attend your family doctor and screening campaigns to make sure you are ok. One of my friend's mothers attended mammogram screens regularly and she recently had a breast cancer picked up in its early stages. She had a mastectomy, with lymph node clearance - she is in the clear now, which is good.

If you are concerned, ask your family doctor about it - I am sure they would be able to answer your questions.

My mom's friend is a doctor. I don't know what she's rambling about and I haven't done my research yet, but she's (the doctor) actually offering me to take a breast cancer vaccine. I thought "what the hell" but surely if a real doctor says so, there's a logical, scientific reason behind it.

That's interesting, because according to the news, breast cancer vaccines are only in the initial stages of trial. It's not expected to be out in full on the market until 5-10 years' time, at least. Maybe there's something else which they know, which is not yet widely publicised? Hmmm...

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/breast-cancer-vaccine-developed-by-australian-scientists-can-stop-disease-returning/story-fneuz9ev-1226826564070

[ValentinClarke]

just keep.getting checkrd.and dont worry!

[Elysium]

Perhaps the vaccine you're thinking of is "gardasil"? It's a vaccine to help prevent various female-only cancers (and one condition for males, apparently):
In girls and young women ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause about 90% of genital warts cases. In boys and young men ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against approximately 90% of genital warts cases.

GARDASIL also helps protect girls and young women ages 9 to 26 against approximately 70% of vaginal cancer cases and up to 50% of vulvar cancer cases.

It then goes on to give a disclaimer about how it may not be 100% effective for everyone, etc. I've actually been vaccinated with gardasil. It's a series of three injections over a six month period.

[Lisa R]

I have talked to my mother about the vaccines and she said she is going to talk to her gyno and ask for her opinion on it. Then she will make me a appointment to see her gyno. I'm just worried that i will get cancer.

[Syvelocin]

Nah, not more than my mild hypochondria makes me. I've been dealing with diseases for too long to be worried about a new one coming along, although I admit it wouldn't be fun. I don't have breast and ovarian cancer family history, but I have lung and colon cancer history. I just figure hey, nothing to worry about now. It may happen in the future, but I'll tackle that obstacle when I get there.

[Karkat]

Cancer runs just about as rampant in my family history as mental illness does. I'm terrified.

[Elysium]

I have talked to my mother about the vaccines and she said she is going to talk to her gyno and ask for her opinion on it. Then she will make me a appointment to see her gyno. I'm just worried that i will get cancer.
Don't spend so much time worrying about it. Just keep getting regular checkups and you'll be fine.

[Lisa R]

This is very good advice and plan to continue getting check ups every year. I still want to take every step that i can to prevent these types of cancers. My aunt was developed ovarian cancer sometime age but now in remission but unable to conceive . She and her husband is have a hard time accepting the fact that it has effected their lifes for ever. They plan on adopting. but still not the same. I want to have children and be able to beastfeed and enjoy their life. I hope that I'm not coming off as weird or strange. Again thanks for your help. p.s Just to add later in time for children not anytime soon. Not rushing it.