BREAST/OVARIAN CANCER AND CONTRACEPTIVE PILL LINK?

[madmadmadwoman]

Any advice welcome please - I have been on Microgynon combined pill since i was about 16 (bar pregnancy obv) - approx 10 years. My mother died of breast cancer and grandmother recently from ovarian cancer.

Have been told by GP no need to worry about the pill upping my risk of either - is this right? Thank you

Madmadmadwoman - I'm so sorry to hear about your mum and grandmother.

My mother died from breast cancer last March, having 'beaten' breast cancer twice it then returned and spread to her liver. I have long held the belief that there is an uncomfortable parallel between first generation pill users and the rates of breast/ovarian cancer now.

I have no idea about the pill upping your risk of either, suffice to say that when my mum was diagnosed the second time I decided that any method of contraception for me would be non-hormonal, i.e. condoms. If you're worried about your risk have a word with your GP and ask about testing for the BRCA gene, something I intend to do when my baby is born in a couple of weeks. I'd rather know so that I can do something about it, and I'm fully prepared to undergo surgery if the potential risk of developing it means that I won't see my kids grow up.

First of all, sorry for you loss. Was it your maternal grandmother? You may know this already and I don't want to worry you but are you aware that these two types of cancer are potentially linked to the same faulty gene? Not necessarily, as it could be coincidence, but potentially, and this would only be relevant if it was your mum's mum. My gp referred me to a genetics specialist because of these two cancers occuring in close female relatives (who were also related to each other). I would go back and speak to the GP if you have not discussed this with them already. I don't know how old you are but it may mean you will get mammograms sooner than you would and they will screen you. I don't know about the pill because I was never on it. Sorry again, I don't want to alarm you in any way, but I wouldn't want you to miss out on screening if you need it.