According to a review by OVOCLINIC in 2024, breast cancer affects 99% of women and whose treatment can often have negative effects on their chances of becoming mothers. In Mali, breast cancer is among the most common forms of cancer, according to the 2020 Mali cancer registry (Mali Médical 2024 cross-sectional study).
It is the leading female cancer with a rate of 28.8% of all registered cancers followed by cervical cancer 25.1% (Mali Cancer Registry). These women who have not yet passed the childbearing age can have children after successful treatment for breast cancer. According to specialists, it is important to know that breast cancer itself does not affect the ability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to term.
DrMadane Ly, Oncologist (cancerologist) at the Medical Forum in Bamako explains: “ there is no actual clinical link between breast cancer and fertility. We speak of cancer when there is uncontrolled and indefinite cell proliferation over time. This tumor has the capacity to detach itself from the breast which is its organ of origin to colonize other parts of the body such as the liver, the lung or the bones through the blood. Therefore, breast cancer as such cannot be a cause of fertility problems. But, someone who has breast cancer, during the active period of treatment, she must not become pregnant because the majority of treatments that the person will follow, in particular chemotherapy, are toxic to the fetus therefore this can lead to malformations in the child. Therefore, patients are not allowed to become pregnant during the active period of treatment. On the other hand, after recovery, we can indeed have children. ».
Another important thing, according to the oncologist, is the fact that if a woman who has never had children and has already reached an age close to menopause, she may no longer have children because chemotherapy can disrupt her periods. . Right now, it’s the treatments and not the cancer itself. So treatments can speed up menopause. He will add that zero risk in any field of medicine does not exist, there are criteria, if the woman is young and she meets these criteria, she can be authorized to have pregnancies.
Dr. Ly will emphasize that breast cancer survivors after their treatments can have normal pregnancies like any other women. After the treatments, the side effects have passed, she is declared cured, she has the right to lead a normal life. He will emphasize the fact that after successful treatment of breast cancer, the woman runs no risk of becoming pregnant in connection with the disease, on the other hand, a woman who becomes pregnant and the cancer is declared, this is a matter of particular load taking into account the psychology of the woman, the age of pregnancy, treatments that are toxic for the baby. At the moment it is a multidisciplinary team which decides what is best for the woman taking into account her desire to keep the pregnancy or not, the opinion of her husband etc…
According to the oncologist, breast cancer survivors are prohibited from breastfeeding their children because the products they are given go into the breasts and by suckling, the child would consume these products which are not of their age and can be toxic. for him. Finally, Dr Ly Madane will say that the pregnancies of breast cancer survivors are monitored like any other pregnancy. They are followed by gynecologists and/or midwives.
Ms. Faye Kadiatou Kanté, president of the “Cancer Combatants” Association tells us that: “in his association, there are women who were able to have children after their cancer treatments. According to her, breast cancer and fertility have nothing to do with each other. After chemotherapy, there are possibilities that you could have children. The only consequence would be that the child will not be able to breastfeed, otherwise everything will be like other women.” She told us that in their association, because of breast cancer, many women were abandoned by their husbands and/or their families because of “ignorance because nowadays, no one is safe from this disease”.
Ms. Kadidiatou Niambélé, mother and breast cancer survivor, testifies: “After my treatment which cost me one breast, I became pregnant. As I followed my treatments well, I did not have any particular difficulties. It was like my other pregnancies. During the pregnancy, I was followed by a gynecologist and I gave birth by the grace of God without complications, the child also did very well “. Finally, she tells us that she was supported by her husband and her entire family, from the treatment of breast cancer to her pregnancy, until today.
-Ms. CA, breast cancer survivor : “It was in the year 2000 that I had breast cancer; I had my left breast amputated. Since then, my married life began to struggle but as I was able to resist and stay at home, I became pregnant in 2010. I already had a child before the illness. When I got pregnant, I had problems. My health was too weakened but according to the doctors, this had nothing to do with the cancer which had already been removed. So, after prenatal visits and treatments, I had my child by cesarean section. Today he is 14 years old and doing very well. The only difference with the other children is that he didn’t suckle. ».Traoré Bakary, husband of a breast cancer survivor: «After her chemotherapies in 2010, my wife hid from me that the doctor had forbidden her to take contraceptives because she wanted to have children. We hadn’t had one yet, so she got pregnant in 2015. We had the scare of our lives, but after going to the hospital and being well informed by the doctors, we were able to support each other and the other to follow CPN (antenatal consultations) until the pregnancy reaches term. She gave birth to a beautiful daughter without any major problems. In 2020, she had a baby boy. Nowadays we have our two children and they have no difference from other children».
GOOD TO KNOW
Dr Sissoko Famakan, Gynecologist reassures us that : “despite the disruption of reproductive functions caused by the treatments, pregnancy is still sometimes possible. However, it remains contraindicated during breast cancer treatments. Indeed, certain treatments for breast cancer can pose risks to the fetus. This is why it is advisable to maintain an effective non-hormonal method of contraception, even if there is no cycle for women during treatment. After stopping active treatments, you may start to think about your parenting plan. Your healthcare team is there to inform you and tell you how long it is best to wait before considering conceiving a child. The decision may depend on the prognosis, the risk of recurrence, your age, but also the treatments received.
What impact does breast cancer have on women’s fertility?
Dr. Sissoko, Gynecologist, tells us that sometimes hormonal therapy is offered to slow the progression of breast cancer and to prevent a recurrence. This hormonal therapy can induce irregularities or even a cessation of menstrual cycles, leading to a loss of fertility during and shortly after treatment. Chemotherapy drugs can damage the female reproductive system, reduce the quantity or quality of eggs, affect the functioning of the testicles or damage sperm. This damage can lead to reduced fertility and sometimes even infertility. Still, these are treatments for breast cancer and not the cancer itself, so after successful treatment, a breast cancer survivor of childbearing age can safely become pregnant.
Aminata Sanogo
Source: L’Annonceur newspaper
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