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Mirena IUD/breast cancer

I wanted to reach out and see if anyone else had Mirena when diagnosed with breast cancer?  I was only 30 years old when diagnosed and had Mirena put in about 1 year prior to me discovering a lump.  I really think there may be a connection.  I may be interested in getting together a class action suit, if there are enough of us.  Please respond if you have a similar story or know someone who does.

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Comments

  • cd1234
    cd1234 Member Posts: 40
    edited March 2010

    I was using Mirena when diagnosed at 37. I had mine for about 3 years when diagnosed.

  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2010

    OH my gosh!

    I have been waiting for a post like this one! It was suggested that I try the Mirena IUD to correct irregular bleeding. I was 51 years old at the time. My doctor assured me that the mirena only delivers hormones to the uterus and it would be perfectly safe. That was in February of 2008.  9 Months later I had 3 cancerous tumors in my left breast and had to have a radical mastectomy. One was 5.5 Cm! I faithfully got my mammograms every year since 40. I will always believe the mirena iud caused my stage 3 cancer!

  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 74
    edited March 2010

    I still have my mirena...and have NED after 5 years at stage 3..I think if it were a factor...well i'd have relapsed by now.

  • tbarnes
    tbarnes Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2010

    Im 29 years old and had the Mirena since Sep07. Abount Sept 08 I felt a lump in my breast but didnt think about it too much as it was the size of a bb and closer to the skin then deep in the breast. In December of 09 I noticed that it was getting bigger . It would always get a little bigger for a few days out of a month then it would return the  the bb size but in Dec I noticed that it was getting bigger and staying bigger... I went to the doc and they refered me to a specialist in Dec. He did a breast exam and sent me for an ultra sound which came back inconclusive but not a cyst. So the doc wanted to do the core needle biopsy.. I had no Ins...So i spent a few months working on getting that and last Tuesday had the biopsy by the way the lump has grown from the size of a bb to the size of a gum ball. I wont know the results until this tuesday but Im kinda wondering the same as you... Im 29..  Breast cancer just dont fit in to  my schedule... Lets hope others read these comments...  Wish me luck... Ill keep you all in my prayers.

  • chalex
    chalex Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2010

    I also had a Mirena IUD placed in April 09 and I had 7-8 cm tumour that I found myself in July, 2009. I believe that sucker grew overnight. I also believe ther is a connection b/w BC and the Mirena.... I would love them to do an investigation and see if there's a direct link to the mirena and BC.

    Chalex

  • Tabb2000
    Tabb2000 Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2010

    Thank you all for your feedback!  I'll post back after I do some investigating.

  • Melissa35
    Melissa35 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2010

    I was watching a commercial tonight for Mirena that came on TV and started paying attention when is said "is not recommended for women with certain types  of cancer" Since I am currently going through chemo for Breast Cancer I thought I check into what type of cancers that might be. Am overwhelmed at the postings of women with the mirena that were diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope there is a study done soon and if there is a link, it is addressed right away.

     I have a 2 year old and a 13 year old and have the Mirena in 3 different times. Most recently right after my 2 year old was born. I have NO family history of breast cancer and am still in shock that I had a rediculous 10 cm tumor! Can't help but wonder if mirena may have contributed...

     I have round 5 of 8 chemo treatments in the morning and you can bet I'm going to ask my dr if I need to get this thing out....actually regardless of his answer/opinion I think its coming out!

  • cwepener
    cwepener Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2010

    My Oncologist suggested I have the mirena after I was diagnosed, and after all the treatment and a year on Herceptin, the beast has come back after 3 years... I makes me wonder???

  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2010

    Hi Melissa,

    My doctor removed my mirena as soon as I was diagnosed. He said that I was never to have anything that produced hormones again since my tumors were hormone positive. I dont blame you for removing the mirena.

    Pam

  • zenith4289
    zenith4289 Member Posts: 137
    edited July 2010

    I had a mirena from 2004-2009 for heavy periods.  went thru menopause with it.  Then this year I started having "periods" again and went to my gyn immediately.  Went for annual mammo - long story short i had bilateral ILC with 3/30 nodes positive.  2 cm was the largest tumor.  also have uterine "atypical hydroplasia" and need a complete hysterectomy.  If the mirena contributed to the breast cancer or was the cause of the breast cancer i want to know and i want to be part of any lawsuit. 

  • jdootoo
    jdootoo Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2010

    I had the Mirena placed about 4 years ago and was DX in January, 2010, although I am ER and PR negative.

  • recentlydiagnosedinOH
    recentlydiagnosedinOH Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2010

    I was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer two weeks ago.  Since then I have found out that it is 3cm, ER-/PR-, HER2+.  I had Mirena inserted in September 2008 and I found a lump in my right breast in September 2009.  I immediately saw my OB/GYN in September 2009 and she did not think I should worry about it, but keep an eye on it. 

     The lump grew over these last few months (while still having Mirena inserted) and now have been recently diagnosed. I am 33 years old and I am having a Mastectomy on Friday. 

    Is there a Mirena connection?

  • zenith4289
    zenith4289 Member Posts: 137
    edited August 2010

    I believe that breast cancer is listed as a risk factor for the Mirena.  I didn't think I was at risk - no family history of breast cancer so chose to use it to decrease the severity of my perimenopausal periods.  It releases progesterone into your system every day so if your tumor is PR + it is not helping.

  • caddyusa
    caddyusa Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2010

    I had mirena put in February of 2007 and September of 2008 was diagnosed w/ Breast Cancer I was 35 at the time with no family history of cancer at all , I was wonder if mirena had something to do it, but my OB/ GYN and Breast Surgeron said no, but I took mirena out soon I find out  I had Breast Cancer and I always had that in the back of my mind, was mirena or not, I had severe side effects from mirena, like fatigue, mood swing ,pain,lower libido,and about 6 months after mirena a lower imune system, I was sick all the time  getting everthing from colds to shingles.. I was  told by the doctors been like  that was pretty normal for a mother of 2 little children I had a 2 years old and a 6 months old at the time.And like some woman my lump showed over night and was growing like crazy, so today I looked to report mirena to FDA, and I think that anynone that had Cancer  after mirena should do the same ,I've been searching to see if mirena can cause cancer and what I find out that they don't have enough cases so relate mirena with Breast Cancer, but if more people report they may start to take a better look. u can go to the Mirena Official web site and scroll down a little bit and you'll see in blue report side effect to FDA, 

  • caddyusa
    caddyusa Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2010
    I found out a law suit going on  you can check at mirenalegalhelp.com, But also is very important to report to the FDA
  • Carole66
    Carole66 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2010

    I had the Mirena about 8 years ago and had it for 5 years, when it came time for a new one I had gotten divorced and my own insurance did not cover it. So I went without and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer March 5 and just had a double mastectomy done 2 week ago. I am interested in your findings.

  • Wiosna
    Wiosna Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2010

    I had my first Mirena put in August, 2004 while having an operation to treat what turned out to be only very minor endometriosis. Four years later, I had severe endometriosis and during that operation another Mirena was put in, i felt there was a connection between the Mirena and the endo then. In November 2009, I found a lump and was diagnosed with BC. This was exactly one year after that operation. Again, I felt there was a connection between the Mirena, the endometriosis and the BC. Needless to say I had it removed just before 3x FEC.

    The cancer recurred in the same place and has metastasised. It has grown back extremely quickly. I would like to find a treatment that balances the hormones completely.

    I'd also be very interested in any findings. 

  • angicpa
    angicpa Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2010

    I had a Mirena inserted in June 2007. My body expelled it in October 2007. I was diagnosed April 2009.  My feeling is the Mirena didn't cause my cancer, but certainly contributed to its growth.

  • Wiosna
    Wiosna Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2011
    Is everyone on this thread aware of the other Mirena thread on this site? It's called Mirena IUD. A lot of other women think the two are connected as well.
  • lisa1427
    lisa1427 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2011

    I had the Mirena inserted in March of 2010.  Was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43 in May of this year.  As my cancer is both ER and PR positive, I was advised by my oncologist and gynecologist to have the Mirena removed, which I just did on Friday (June 24th) before starting my chemo on June 30th.

  • Unknown
    edited September 2011

    I am 49 and have been getting mammograms done annually since I was 40. I had a Mirna inserted in April of 2009, My mammogram done in April of 2011 came back abnormal and I have to get an ultrasound done. I am very concerned because I'm also a 35 year smoker.

  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 64
    edited September 2011

    Just an observation from those posting.  It seems like most who have bc after using Mirena are hormone postive.  Those not affected seem to be homone negative.  

    I took HRT for 14 years but my bc is triple negative I don't believe that the HRT had any affect on my getting IBC, TN.  

    Just my opinion. NJ 

  • Jenniferky
    Jenniferky Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2011

    My sister is 32 years old and a mother of 4 very small children.  She recently had the mirena put in and 6 months later felt a very large tumor,  which we now know is a very aggresive breast cancer.  It is an estrogen fed tumor, so the doctors have all said this did play a factor.  They say she probably had the cancer cells and the mirena fed the tumor into an aggresive state.  I think something should be done before any one else has to go through a double masectomy and chemo, which is what my sister is about to face within a week.....

  • leelee07
    leelee07 Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2011

    I have had Mirena for 4 yrs. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer omn Oct. 17, 2011. I still have it in. I have already gone through 2 treatments. I told everyone I could tell I had Mirena and no one acted like it was a big deal. I switched oncologists and he said it needs to come out ASAP. I don't know if it has affected my treatments or not. The P.A, that put it in can't take it out until after I have another treatment. This has me concerned. Does MIrena have anything to do with getting the Breast Cancer? I have so many questions and it seems so hard to get any answers.

  • leelee07
    leelee07 Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2011

    I would like to know if MIrena has anything to do with getting BC. I have so many questions, and feel like its so hard to get answers. I still have the Mirena in. I had told evryone I saw that I had an IUD and no one acted like it was a big deal. I switched oncologist and he says it needs to come out immediately. I have already had 2 treatments and by the time I get it removed I will have had 3 treatments. I don't know if it is affecting my treatments or not. I am a single parent of a 4year old and I am having a hard time with all of this.

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 154
    edited December 2011

    I had two Mirenas for a total of 9 years before diagnosis.  I was told it had to come out when diagnosed, so I had it removed.  I too thought that the hormones would only go into the uterus and not the blood stream, but apparently not.  The reason I got it in the first place was because of medical conditions not compatible with oral contraceptives.  I suspect it's no worse or better than oral contraceptives.  IMO, breast cancer research needs to take a look at all hormonal methods of contraception. 

  • Bonseye
    Bonseye Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2011

    I too had a Mirena....it was placed in May 2007. This is all interesting to me because as soon as my GYN heard I had breast cancer I had to get it out right away...so glad i found this discussion! I am going to do some research for sure!

  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2011

    I had Mirena placed in September 2010 and was diagnosed with BC in April 2011. I still have it, but after reading this thread I will be talking to my oncologist about it. Yikes!

  • vmkroger
    vmkroger Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2012

    Recently diagnosed and perplexed, I searched mirena and breast cancer and found this website and forum. My mirena was removed in October 2011 after five years. It helped uncontrolled bleeding. Well it looks like the five years of relief may have led to this life changing diagnosis. I'm very interested in what, if anything, is being done to determine the relationship between mirena and bc. I would love to participate in a class action suit if one exists. If not, I feel compelled to find the right lawyer. I'm very angry and scared right now. My bilateral mastectomy is scheduled for January 31.

  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 167
    edited January 2012

    I ahve a mirnia and I am ER-, so no it didn't cause mine. It is such a low dose that does not go into the blood stream that you may have a hard tiem with a suit. They don't even recomend having them removed when dx with bc.