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Pregnancy increases recurrence risk?

Page last modified on: September 17, 2008
Question from Ellie: Can pregnancy give rise to a recurrence in hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer survivors? What data is available on the subject?
Answers —Kutluk Oktay, M.D.: There is really no evidence that receptor-positive patients will have higher risk of cancer coming back after pregnancy. Overall, women with breast cancer -- whether receptor-negative or positive -- who become pregnant seem to have similar or better outcomes compared to those who did not get pregnant.
Leslie Schover, Ph.D.: It's important to say that these are women who were successfully treated for their cancer, had no evidence of the disease, and then got pregnant.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Fertility and Pregnancy. Kutluk Oktay, M.D. and Leslie Schover, Ph.D. answered your questions about breast cancer treatments that can affect your fertility, options for preserving your fertility, being treated for breast cancer while pregnant, and more.


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

Kutluk Oktay, M.D.Kutluk Oktay, M.D. is a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the director of the Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility at New York Medical College.

Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D.Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.

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