Fertility after Chemo

cwo739 · New User Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

Does anyone know anything about the effects of Dacarbazine (DTCI) and Interlukin (IL-2) on fertility? I am 26 years old and underwent this form of chemo last year for 6 months to treat my melanoma. My PET/CT scans have all came back normal since then, but I haven't been able to find out anything about the effects of this type of chemo on fertility. I have resumed to a normal menstral cycle since then and would like to know if there was any potential harm to the ovaries or potential risk for pregnancy, birth defects, etc.
Thanks!

jacques recinella · New User Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 8

Hi
Happy to hear you've completed your treatment and doing well. I am sure you are anxious to get on with a normal life again. The chance of your melanoma recurring is the greatest with in the first 3 years. A rule of thumb is to hold off getting pregant until then. There is some uncertainty about the effect of pregnancy on melanoma, I have met women that we diagnosed with melanoma while pregnant. The literature is poor. The few women that I have met that completed systemic therapy such as yours that I have met have had normal children. Again, the few waited for the 3 years to be up before trying.
I am sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear. My suggestion is to seek a second opinion from a major melanoma treatment center. The physicians there see only melanoma and that is their field fo research rather than that of a general oncologist.
Good luck and stay well

Crystal1111 · Regular Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Florida

I've heard also that because pregnancy changes your estrogen levels, it increases the chance of a melanoma recurrence. After my melanoma diagnosis (3 years now), I made the decision to not have children because of the fear of recurrence. I may be wrong, but I remember some medical professionals advising me against it. Any other thoughts?

cwo739 · New User Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

I agree that the literature is poor. It is frustrating not being able to find more information about the effects of chemo on fertility. After I had my lymph nodes removed I had to wait a month before I could begin chemo, so I went to a fertility clinic during that time, and they couldn't really tell me anything definitive. I expressed my concerns to my oncologist who IS a melanoma expert, and he consulted the drug company who makes DTIC. They didn't really have much to tell him. My thoughts are that there might not be much research or literature because most patients are older or past the childbearing ages, which concerns me. I will very likely wait the three years--I have heard that time frame also. Afterall, I just got married a few months ago and probably would have waited that long even if I didn't ever have cancer! But, I definitely want children and so I think about my chances with that a lot. Thanks for your input and keep me posted if you or anyone else hears anything new on this subject!

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