CALGARY – For women who have trouble conceiving, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) offers hope.
However, for one woman, it uncovered a devastating illness. Entertainment reporter Guiliana Rancic chronicled her struggle with infertility on a reality show. It was when she was about to begin her third IVF attempt that her fertility doctor ordered her to have a mammogram. It was then that she learned was in the early stages of breast cancer.
Her case, as well as the recent death of Elizabeth Edwards who used fertility technologies to have two children, has raised concerns that there may be a connection between fertility treatments and breast cancer.
“There was always a concern with cancers related to hormones, breast cancers and ovarian cancers, that were they going to be increased or changed with fertility treatments,” says Dr. Cliff Librach with the CreATe Fertility Centre.
Several studies throughout the world have found that’s not the case including one published by Dr. Librach.
“Those of them who had gone through fertility treatments in the past had no increased risk of breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the future.”
Doctors are careful to make sure women about to undergo fertility treatments don’t already have an underlying cancer.
“The risks could be potentially that by giving hormones you stimulate the growth of the cancer,: says Dr. Librach.
Some students have also indicated that fertility treatments may actually reduce the risk of developing cancers but when it comes to the treatments, most say longer-term follow ups with women is still needed.
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