question on birth control

loveher · 01-14-2011, 10:23 PM

Hello! I've not posted in a long time but I do still browse from time to time and still love this board. I currently have a question and since I don't have my mommy to consult with, I will ask you lovely ladies.

I've been thinking about going on birth control pills for a while, mainly to treat stubborn acne. The thing is, I'm worried about the hormones in birth control which are usually a combination of estrogen and progestin. I know that they are much lower than they used to be but being the worry wart that I am and considering my family history, I wonder if it would increase my risk of breast cancer. Does anyone know anything about there being a link between oral contraceptive and breast cancer particularly her2?

I knwo my post is so not as pertinent as other ones on here but having lived half my life with a (very brave) mom with her2 I guess I look at things in a different way, and I know you guys understand me.

BonnieR · 01-14-2011, 10:55 PM

Hi Sue. I remember you and your devotion to your mother.
I don't have an answer for you. Sounds like you need to weigh the pros and cons with medical specialists. But it does seem to me that there must be other acne treatments that are more targeted than BC pills. It is wise of you to be asking questions.
Keep the faith.

Trish · 01-15-2011, 01:44 AM

Hi Sue
I don't know the answer either but I'm glad you're still visiting the site. It is important to be able to articulate the issues to discuss with your doctor and hopefully some fine minds here will be able to give you some advice.
Trish

whatz · 01-15-2011, 08:07 AM

Hi Sue,
My cancer is/was hormone negative yet my onc took me off birth control right away, so from an oncology perspective you would be putting yourself at a higher risk (and I was on the second to lowest hormone dose per my OBGYN). I agree with Bonnie, if the main concern is Acne...there should be something better than BC (and I would question my skin doc on that).

tricia keegan · 01-15-2011, 09:51 AM

I don't know either Sue but do suspect there may be a connection and have often thought my many years on birth control pills may well have had a lot to do with my diagnosis.
I agree that if this is for skin issue's, I'd use something else.

DiDi70 · 01-17-2011, 12:03 PM

Hi Sue,

I was on fertility meds (high estrogen) when I was diagnosed with Her 2, Estrogen and Progesterone Negative cancer. Although my doctors said that the tumour was hormone negative, they have strongly advised me to not take any hormones nor try to get pregnant (causes an increase in estrogen.) Perhaps you could ask your Family Doctor to check with the Oncology Dept. where your Mom was treated about the birth control question?

Now I will sound like a commercial: Have you tried ProActive? My Niece uses it and it cleared her skin up beautifully in just a couple of months (she's 14 now.) My sister did not want my Niece to take any meds to deal with her acne, this is due to my diagnosis. Also, there are laser treatments for acne too.

Have you consulted a dermatologist? Many benefit plans will cover that.

Lien · 01-17-2011, 02:26 PM

Hi Sue,

Good to hear from you. I remember you from when you posted about your Mom. I used to have pretty bad acne, and it didn't get much better when I was on birth control pills.

My acne disappeared when I went on a gluten-free diet. I didn't get on the diet for that reason, but it was a very welcome side effect. Just saying that there could be other ways to deal with the acne. And it doesn't have to be gluten, it could be dairy, or other foods. You would need to work with a nutritionist or food sensitivity specialist. It doesn't have to be a classic allergy, so a regular allergy doc might not be able to help.

I'm not saying this would work for you, but if you decide you want to try something non-hormonal, it would be something you could look into. Just let me know if you want to pursue this and need more info.

Jacqueline

Jean · 01-17-2011, 02:54 PM

Of course we remember you!!!

Happy to hear from you and also that you think so much of us to ask for opinions.

I think that in light of the negative effect that birth controls pills may or may not have on your body, why not try (maybe you have already) other options.
Antibiotics, light facial peels, even regular facials may be of help. There is also some interesting articles on diet and certain supplements to help the skin.
I would exhaust those options first. (maybe you have?)

Sending you hugs,
Jean

flynny · 01-17-2011, 08:02 PM

So glad you are roaming the boards and asking this question for yourself! I for one would try another avenue for the acne. Supplements or change in foods you eat would be where I would start. Have you thought about meeting with a nutrionist or a Naturopath? Looking back, I was on the pill for 9 plus years and sometimes I feel it could have contributed to my breast cancer. Of course I can't be certain, but I really do think it may have had something to do with it. Have you talked with your OB about this? I hope you are doing well. I know how difficult it is not being able to ask your mom these kinds of questions. My mom passed on 6/17/08 from BC and it isn't easy. I miss her to pieces as I am sure you do as well.

Hugs to you.

Jackie07 · 01-17-2011, 09:54 PM

It's good to hear from you, Sue.

Acne is annoying. My junior high school (homeroom)teacher once pointed her finger at (the pimple on) the tip of my nose and laughed. Everyone had a theory and 'solution' to cure it. Since my three older brothers (12, 10, and 3 years my senior) all had pretty bad acnes in their teens, I did not worry too much about it.

I did find that exercising, drinking a lot of water, eating fruit and vegetables (such as curcumbers and watermelons) and avoiding fried/greasy stuff helped. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and avoid caffeine and spicy foods.

Taking birth control pills is a 'No, no' if you are at high risk of getting breast cancer. I had been taking 'the pill' to control the uterine fibroids for a little more than three years when we found the 1.2 cm bc tumor. The first thing my family doctor told me was to stop taking the pills.

Your dermatologist should be able to prescribe a topical cream/solution to reduce your symptoms.

It is very annoying to have those pimples/acnes. Be sure to keep your face clean - you can try the Clineque facial soap as it is recommended by most dermatologists.

Karen Wheel · 01-18-2011, 10:21 AM

I have said no to birth control at this point as my Oncologist said it was out of the question after having BC. However, you weren't the one with cancer.... so I am not sure what the advise is to give you.

I am thinking that if you are just looking to help with acne... I would highly suggest you read this book and maybe you will find a way naturally to cure the acne. Most of the time it can be cleared up by diet .... this book is a diet book and not a "cancer" themed book but it is written by a doctor that helps people lose weight and change their lives so that they can ward off getting things like heart disease and cancer. He explains it all so wonderfully and I honestly really enjoyed his book. I eat pretty much like his plan and I am thrilled with how great I feel .... lots of energy - and I am NEVER sick which is awesome! AND I really didn't need to lose a bunch of weight --- 10-15 pounds but that came off very easily... I read the book because it was recommended on the diet that was good to help ward off cancer. THAT I was really interested in!

It is: Eat to Live - by Joel Fuhrman, MD.

Might be better for you long term....

:-) Good luck. Karen

Jean · 01-18-2011, 10:45 AM

Jackie,
How unprofessional, cruel and simple minded that homeroom teacher was. It is scary and unfortunate that people like that are in position to influence young minds.

Behavior like that is never forgotten.

Jean

Jackie07 · 01-18-2011, 01:47 PM

Thanks, Jean.

It was a very big 'bump' right on the tip of my nose...

A lot of people are not very tactful when they speak. A college basketball teammate (2 years my junior) had made a comment while visiting us just a few months after my husband and I had got married: "How come a handsome guy like him would marry you? Why would a smart girl like you marry him?"

Mind you - she had received her PhD in U. of Colorado (where her husband got his in chemical engineering) soon after making that comment and is currently an English professor in a college in Central Taiwan.

People don't change. She had asked a similar question back in the college days when, through one of her high school friends, she had learned that the most popular guy in her friend's college bore a very similar name to mine. "Is M. H. T. related to you?" "How could he be your brother? He's so handsome and popular!"

My skin has improved dramatically ever since the life-long brain tumor was resected in 1990. (The increased cranial pressure had been affecting my sleep - constant nightmares had prolonged/aggrevated my skin problems.)

Hubby is still terribly youthful looking. With my gray hair and 'weary' look, I would have been mistaken as his 'mother' in public had we been of the same race. But, in his mind, I am still the prettiest girl he's ever met...

Jean · 01-18-2011, 02:00 PM

Jackie,
I really think there is a book waiting be published.
Do you remember the show people say the darnest things?

Well maybe a book - the unkind stupid questions
and remarks that people make...and adding the smarter they are the larger the remarks.

Before I gave birth to my son I would mostly ignore
most silly and stupid remarks, but after my son's birth,
all bets were off. I did not want him to learn that it was approved that it's acceptable for anyone to be unkind.

I remember well when my son was in 4th grade. He had a major hip surgery on both hips. He was doing very well with his recovery process - his teacher complained to me that he was too slow in gym class.
Could he not be any faster?

I responded with "you are aware of his medical history,
can you not be any smarter and kinder?
Understand your feelings.

Jean