Skip to content

Infertility drugs and triple-negative breast cancer?

Page last modified on: August 18, 2008
Question from Kim: Has there ever been an association between use of infertility drugs and triple-negative breast cancers?
Answer —George Sledge, M.D.: I'm unaware of any. However, recent epidemiological studies suggest that the risk factors for triple-negative breast cancer may be somewhat different than for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers. So for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancers, for instance, risk factors include the age at first birth and how many pregnancies one has. Indeed, for these women, having many children and starting having children at a young age are protective for those tumors. In contrast, recent studies say that for triple-negative breast cancers, higher parity and young age at first birth may in fact be a risk factor (increased risk). This was not observed in older studies because these cancers represent a small minority of all cancers. In addition, there also appears from an epidemiological standpoint for there to be an interaction with race and age, so that younger women and African-American women are more likely to develop a triple-negative or basal breast cancer. In particular, young African-American women are more likely to have a triple-negative breast cancer.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2008 our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. George Sledge, M.D. and Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about triple-negative breast cancer and its treatment.

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.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

George Sledge, M.D.George Sledge, M.D. is the Ballvé-Lantero Professor of Oncology at Indiana University at Indianapolis, where he co-directs Indiana University Simon Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Program.

Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a general surgeon. Her clinical practice is located at Holy Redeemer Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.