Fertility after cancer - Am I mad?!

[lauratheexplorer100]

Hi!
This very second I have joined Mumsnet. I’ve always been a bit wary up to now –it being the world of Mums, somewhere I have never and perhaps will never belong.
I had bowel cancer and because of consequent problems, I’m doubtful whether pregnancy is even possible.
But I’m giving this baby-making malarkey a go and have just started fertility treatment. So my first question is: has anyone got pregnant after cancer, particularly bowel cancer? And how did it go? I’ve asked my nurse specialist and she knows no-one! So I'm naturally worried that there's a very good reason people don't tend to get knocked up after cancer, and this might be the end of me!!
Any advice/experiences would be gratefully received.
I've got no idea if this is the right place to post this question either x

Hi laura

I'm not exactly who you're looking for as I've not had any fertility treatment or got pregnant, but I have bowel cancer.

I guess part of the reason your specialist nurse doesn't know anyone who has got pregnant since cancer treatment is that most people with bowel cancer are much older.

What treatment have you had?

Has your fertility doctor got any experience of treating people after cancer?

My cancer is now incurable so I won't be having children, but prior to my recurrence I was told I should be able to get pregnant. I had my eggs frozen before chemo in case it damaged them, so I guess that would be my main concern. I would've had IVF anyway as I carry a faulty gene. But I specifically asked about fertility and was told it should be OK, though they couldn't be sure as most of the people treated were post-menopause.

Have you heard of Shine cancer support? It's specifically for young people with cancer and there have been discussions about fertility in the Facebook group so I'm sure there would be someone in a similar position.

I hope your treatment is successful

Hi!
Thanks for getting back to me! I'm sorry to hear your cancer is incurable. I always feel like an insensitive twat worrying about fertility to people like you. I'm sorry!
I've tried everywhere, alas. The only person I've come across is an American lady on FB who was a little bonkers and lit the fear of God into me with her stories. Last I posted on Shine no-one had got pregnant after bowel cancer. My friend has been on at me to try Mumsnet, thus my presence here.
I'm going through PGD- IVF at the moment - I have a gene problem too. xx

No, no, please don't worry. It's not insensitive at all! I was just trying to give my background.

Ah that's a shame there wasn't anyone on Shine. Have you seen the posts on there by the person who started a website about fertility? I don't think it has much information yet, but she might be able to put you in touch with someone.

I started posting when I was having my eggs frozen nearly five years go now, then joined the cancer thread and have stuck around! (You're welcome to join us on there - it's in the General Health topic too)

I really hope the IVF goes well for you there are various fertility threads on here. There won't be anyone in exactly the same position, but at least going through the treatment and able to understand that side of it. I think they're in the Conception topic.

If it's the surgery side of things you're concerned about, have you tried looking for anyone with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis?

Hi laura, I don't know anyone with bowel cancer who has conceived but I do know someone who had Hodgkin lymphoma as a young woman and now has four children. I don't really know her well enough to ask the details but I hope that is encouraging. Best of luck.

Yeah it's the surgery side of things. Regularly feel like my bowels going to fall out and get bowel obstructions all the time! I was diagnosed quite late so v lucky they got all the tumour out as it had grown outside the bowel. Left me rather decrepit!
No I haven't seen those posts - though I have come across her elsewhere. I run a platform for cancer survivors (Mission Remission if you've heard of it, though probably not as we're quite new!) and she's a friend of a friend. I'll drop her a message and see what she thinks - a V good idea - THANK YOU!! xx

I had a neuroendocrine tumour in my bowel which the doctors think has been there for quite some time . They certainly think that the cancer was there whilst I was l pregnant - although it took me quite a while to conceive.

I am just giving my body a little while longer to recover from surgery before we try for a baby again. I haven't been told that my cancer should prevent us from conceiving .

Thanks everyone!!
Sausage Mother - you are basically me! IVF PGD for lynch right now! I'll PM you later :)
If anyone else crops up in the meantime, please do let me know!
The more stories the better. xx