Years ago the medical opinion was that pregnancy should be avoided after treatment for breast cancer as it might increase the risk of the cancer coming back.

In recent years the results of a number of careful scientific studies have shown that this is not true and that becoming pregnant after previous treatment for a breast cancer does not increase the chances of the cancer returning, or a new cancer developing. Indeed there is a suggestion that pregnancy might even help to reduce the risk of a recurrence (though this is not certain).

Despite these figures it is still common practice for specialists to suggest that pregnancy is delayed for at least two years after finishing breast cancer treatment. The main reason for this is that if a breast cancer is going to come back this is most likely to happen during the first two years after treatment. This does not mean that there is no risk of recurrence after two years, but the risk is considerably reduced.

Breast cancer treatment often involves giving chemotherapy (after surgery and radiotherapy) and/or the use of hormonal treatments like the drug tamoxifen. Many types of chemotherapy can reduce fertility. Sometimes, particularly in younger women, fertility may be reduced for only a few months, but in older women, closer to the menopause, chemotherapy may often result in infertility. Taking tamoxifen can also interfere with fertility, although its effects are much less than chemotherapy.

Therefore, there is no reason to advise against further pregnancies after treatment for a breast cancer, However as every patient is a unique individual with their own special circumstances it would be best for your daughter to talk this over with her specialist.