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Recurrence and oral contraceptives?

Page last modified on: October 3, 2008
Question from IlkeG: Why would someone with HR-negative breast cancer need to worry about not taking birth control? It would seem it doesn't apply. I'm confused.
Answer —Kathy Miller, M.D.: For many women who continue to have regular menstrual periods after their treatment for breast cancer, having an effective means of contraception is very important. With modern oral contraceptives, the doses of estrogen are very low and are less than pre-menopausal ovaries make naturally. There should be no concern about an increased risk of recurrence or new breast cancers with current contraceptives, including oral contraceptive pills. That is especially true for women whose initial breast cancer was ER-negative.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Hormone-Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer. Kathy D. Miller, M.D., Marisa Weiss, M.D., and moderator Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. answered your questions about a wide range of issues related to hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kathy D. Miller, M.D.Kathy D. Miller, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology at Indiana University, and a Sheila D. Ward Scholar.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

Jennifer Armstrong, M.D.Jennifer Armstrong, M.D. is a breast cancer oncologist at Paoli Hematology-Oncology Associates in Paoli, Pa., with a special interest in physicians' communication skills.

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