Sigrunn Landa was 31 years old and newly married, when she suddenly developed breast cancer. One breast was removed and she had to start hormone therapy which was to last until she passed the age of 40. The dream of having a family with children was hanging in the balance. – At the start you don’t understand much, you’re about to start chemotherapy and all this. Then it starts to dawn on you how long the cancer treatment is. Then suddenly there wasn’t much hope. An international study, in which a Norwegian senior physician has contributed, should change this. Sigrunn Landa was newly married and got breast cancer. The hope of children seemed impossible. Photo: Gunnar Morsund / news Hope in big study Anne Sætersdal works as a breast cancer specialist at Radiumhospitalet. Seven years ago, she got Norway involved in an international breast cancer project. Section chief at Radiumhospitalet Anna Sætersdal leads the Norwegian part of the international study. Photo: Christina Sjo / Radiumhospitalet 25 Norwegian women have participated so far. These women are part of a larger international project, in which 20 countries from four continents are involved. – Sigrunn was the first patient who was referred for participation in this study in Norway, says Sætersdal. – Because it was a study we knew was going to start, there were many doctors around Norway waiting for the start of the study. Her treating doctor in Stavanger was very quick to refer her. Sigrunn Landa when she was pregnant with Karl. Photo: / news/Private Most common form of cancer Every year over 4,000 women get breast cancer in Norway. Just under 200 of these are under the age of 39, figures from the Cancer Registry show. After 2021, the number of women who get breast cancer aged 25 to 34 has increased slightly. For the age group 35–39 years, the peak was in 2022, while it has been stable thereafter. Many women have to go on hormone therapy for five to ten years after the first cancer treatment is over. For these women, having children in their fertile period is almost impossible, says Sætersdal. – We have long wanted to find out whether it would be safe to interrupt hormone treatment for up to two years in order to have children. At the start of the study, the researchers did not know whether it was safe to stop the hormone treatment, that is what they wanted to test together with the women who wanted children. – We must be honest as doctors and tell about the possible risks the patients are taking. After all, the patients had to have a stated desire to become pregnant and have children. Joined the study Sigrunn was allowed to join the international study. This meant that she stopped all hormone treatment. She became pregnant and gave birth to her son Karl. Karl was born as the second baby in the Norwegian part of the study. – The first time I had Karl on my chest, I thought; is it possible to be this nice? Karl crawled up to mum Sigrunn’s one breast, and found milk. – He looked at me, he raised his neck and was very strong, I remember. It was an absolutely fantastic experience. Sigrunn Landa has had two stays in hormone treatment and had two children. Hope for more The study that Anna Sætersdal is leading in Norway is part of an international study involving over 500 women with breast cancer from all over the world. The study so far shows that young women who have had breast cancer can safely take a break from hormone therapy to have children. These are the results of the research 516 women with an average age of 37 have participated 74% have had at least one pregnancy – 63.8% have had at least one live birth A total of 365 babies have been born After a follow-up of 3.5 years, 44 patients had a breast cancer event I Norway has had 28 women give birth to children as a result of the research since 2017. The study led by senior doctor Anna Sætersdal in Norway has given hope to 25 Norwegian women so far. These have had 28 babies in the last seven years. Senior doctor Anna Sætersdal says it is wonderful with every child that is born. Here with Karl, who is the second child to be born during the study in Norway. Photo: Privat / Privat Karl was the second baby born as a result of the study and she remembers well when she held him in her arms. – It was absolutely fantastic. You are easily moved. I have told the women that I would like to greet the child. And of course it has also been a great joy for me to see the happiness of the parents, says the superior. – Very important research In Norway, it is the Pink Ribbon Action, which is behind the Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Society, which has provided financial support for the study. This is the Pink Ribbon It is the 26th time that the Breast Cancer Society and the Cancer Society organize the Pink Ribbon campaign in Norway. The aim of the campaign is to show support for those affected by breast cancer, increase knowledge about the disease and raise money for breast cancer research. October is the Norwegian Cancer Society’s breast cancer month and Pink Ribbon campaign. The Norwegian Cancer Society’s general secretary, Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross, says research contributes to more people surviving cancer. Photo: Jorunn Valle Nilsen / Kreftforeningen The Norwegian Cancer Society’s general secretary, Ingrid Stenstadvold Ross, says they are proud to have contributed to the study. – Imagine that little Karl exists, thanks to research! My heart warms. This shows how much research means to women affected by breast cancer. She also says that research means that more people survive cancer. – We are also concerned that life after breast cancer should be good. Sigrunn is a good example of that. Her story gives hope to other breast cancer sufferers who dream of becoming a mother. The patients included in the study will be followed up for ten years. The first analysis says that it is so far safe to stop the hormone treatment. The next analysis will come next year. The results will be presented next autumn, at a European cancer conference called ESMO. In the last seven years, Sigrunn Landa has had two children, who are now six and three years old. Photo: Privat / news Sigrunn hopes that many other women in the future will experience the same as her. – After all, there is a hope that even if you get sick, it won’t rule the rest of your life. It should not be what sets the conditions. You can start a family. It’s going well. Things can also go very, very well. Published 30.09.2024, at 18.32
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Cancer research gave more women the opportunity to become pregnant – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
