Studies show there's no correlation between increased risk of recurrence and having a baby after breast cancer treatment. However, there are some issues you should discuss with your oncologist before taking the big baby-making step:

• How long should I wait? Most doctors recommend that women wait two years after completing their treatment before attempting pregnancy. Why? Because your risk of recurrence is highest during this two-year period. It would be a sad state of affairs to get pregnant and then learn you have breast cancer again during the pregnancy. Not only would it complicate your pregnancy (mainly because it would limit your treatment options) but it could also result in your bringing a new life into the world that may never know its mother.
• What role do hormone receptors play during pregnancy? Research is under way to try to figure this out. Some experts believe that if you are hormone receptor negative, then a pregnancy that causes hormone levels to surge won't matter. Others disagree and say that such a surge may play a role after all, and that it depends on what studies you read. So, stay tuned for more information regarding this issue in the future.
• Will I need to take drugs to stimulate the ovaries to make eggs? Yikes! That could mean some form of high-dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The rule for women who've been treated for breast cancer is to steer clear of HRT in any form. If your fertility status changes because you're older or because you took chemo or hormonal therapy (tamoxifen), meet with a medical oncologist who collaborates with your gynecologist and is familiar with these complexities to help you make the best decision.
• Can I stop taking hormonal therapy? Some women start hormonal therapy (which you're supposed to take for 5 continuous years), stop taking it two years later, have a baby, and then go back on it. The problem is there aren't any studies yet that tell us about the long-term effects on your recurrence risk of stopping and starting hormonal therapy.

Some women want a baby so desperately that they ignore all the risks above and embark on pregnancy shortly after completing chemo and radiation, and take hormonal therapy postpartum. You probably won't find a doctor that embraces this approach, though. But when a woman's biological clock is ticking, her ears may be listening to her ovaries and uterus more than to the words from her doctors.

Bottom line: Don't make the decision in a vacuum of whether to have a baby. Seek input from your oncologist. Get informed so you understand as much as we, the health care providers, know at present about the pros and cons of pregnancy after breast cancer.