This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Published on November 6, 2019, a study highlighted the complexities of cancer and pregnancy, a topic that still raises many questions today.
Cancer diagnosis can significantly impact a pregnant woman's life, affecting both her health and the well-being of her unborn child. Despite the challenges, many women with cancer have successful pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies.
According to statistics, only about 1 in 1,000 women can have a pregnancy with cancer. Women who have cancer are still encouraged to try for a baby, and older women are at a higher risk of dealing with cancer and carrying a baby to full term.
Some common types of cancer affecting pregnant women include breast, skin, colon and rectum, thyroid, cervical, and breast cancer, with cervical and breast cancer being the most common ones.
Dealing with cancer during pregnancy can be difficult, causing side effects such as fatigue, pain, and other effects that can make the pregnancy even harder. Breastfeeding can also be affected, as the taste of the milk can change in women dealing with different forms of cancer.
Doctors may advise the mother to avoid breastfeeding when treatments are ongoing, as a safety measure to avoid the radiation and other side effects from reaching the baby. In some cases, cancer can cause stillbirths in pregnant women, and the cancerous cells can spread to the baby as they multiply, especially in cervical cancer.
However, it's essential to separate fact from fiction and clear up some common myths surrounding cancer and pregnancy. One of the most common assumptions is that the child must come out with a disability if the mother has cancer. The truth is that there are many successful births even when the mothers have cancer, and pregnancy can be more difficult, but children can still be born healthy.
