Will I still be able to have children after I finish chemo?
Many women develop breast cancer at an early age; some before they have even had the chance to consider whether or not they want children.
Some breast cancer treatments can cause temporary infertility or reduce your chances of getting pregnant after treatment ends. Other treatments may cause permanent infertility by inducing irreversible menopause.
While treating breast cancer effectively is of course the most important outcome, it may not have to be at the expense of your fertility. Many women complete treatment and go on to have a healthy baby. Talk to your doctor about your fertility options before starting chemo or having surgery. It may be possible to bank fertilized eggs in case you are unable to produce eggs later. Other fertility options post-chemo include egg donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy.
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What is the strongest chemotherapy drug for breast cancer?
Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color. It can cause your urine or other body fluids to turn a reddish color for 1 to 2 days after a dose is given, which is normal and temporary. Continue reading
How long do letrozole side effects last?
Most side effects of letrozole are mild and temporary, lasting only a few days or weeks until your body gets used to taking the medication. Some other side effects of letrozole take a few months to develop and tend to persist long term until you stop taking letrozole. The half-life of letrozole is 2 days, so once you stop taking letrozole, you might continue to experience side effects for about a week to 10 days after your last dose. Continue reading
What happens when you stop taking letrozole?
When you stop taking letrozole, side effects such as swelling, cough, hot flashes, and nausea, should improve within a week or 10 days. Some, such as high cholesterol, bone loss, and hair thinning may take many months to resolve. As long as you have taken it for at least 5 years, then letrozole should continue to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it. Letrozole is usually taken for 5 years, but may be recommended for up to 10 years depending on individual circumstances. Continue reading
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