Pregnancy and cancer, one the giver of life, while the other may rob a person of all health and wellbeing. Mix the two and you come up with a mother’s worst nightmare. You will be happy to know that the occurrence of cancerous tumor during pregnancy is rare, but it is by no means impossible.
Studies show that the chances of having cancer while you are pregnant are pretty low. Yet, this does happen and there are many mothers who have been able to deliver a healthy, happy baby, with little harm to themselves.
What happens, how can you get treatment if cancer occurs during pregnancy and what actions need to be taken? Here is all the information you need to fight the disease while keeping yourself and the baby safe.
Stats clearly indicate that cancers during pregnancy are pretty rare. If they do occur, they are mostly of breast, melanoma, cervical or lymphoma. The tumor that takes placed could be non-cancerous and later develop into cancer. At most times, the tumor is benign.
Studies show that most cancers almost never harm the baby, and treatment options are also generally safe. Still the first thing that needs to be done is see what kind of cancer it is, what stage it is on, and what treatment will be needed to get rid of it. This is where a proper specialist, or the oncologist comes into the picture, as they with their cancer treating team will be best able to guide you on what needs to be done.
The very first thing that you need to determine is that whether or not you or your loved one has cancer. There are quite a few tests that need to be done. The problem is, pregnant women discover late that they have cancer, because as is the case of breast cancer, shape and size of the breast has already changed, so women aren’t conscious of whether or not there might be a cyst or tumor developing.
Some other symptoms of cancer like bloating, rectal bleeding, headaches are also common during pregnancy. Another reason why diagnosis can get delayed. But for the same reason, pregnancy can also become the cause of cancer detection due to the possibility of Pap smear test. It can lead to the discovery of cervical cancer. Ultrasound likewise could show if a woman is suffering from ovarian cancer.
There is one thing that you will need to remember though. Gestational trophoblastic disease or GTD, is also a tumor that is mostly benign and can occur when a fertilized egg is unable to turn into a fetus. This disease is mostly difficult to find at first. One type of GTD is molar pregnancy where the pregnancy may look completely normal but it isn’t. If you think there is something wrong with your baby or you continue to have vaginal bleeding that is not menstruation, then you need to visit your doctor immediately and get it checked.
So what are the tests that can confirm presence of cancer in a pregnant woman other than the ones mentioned above? Here are the safest options:
So it has been confirmed by your medical doctor that you have a malignant tumor. What is the next step? Discussion with your gynecologist as well as an oncologist is essential. They will first check out the following things:
Once surgery has been performed, which is either mastectomy or BCS (breast-conserving surgery), radiation is suggested. There are times when radiation can be delayed until after delivery, but for most cases it has to be done immediately otherwise there is fear of cancer recurring.
As soon as all the treatment is done, the mother gets her lymph nodes checked to make sure that cancer has not spread. If it is cancer of the breast, lymph nodes from the armpits are usually removed. This is generally a safety measure so that any chances of the cancer coming back are limited.
Depending on what stage the pregnancy is, after surgery options are considered. It could range from chemo to radiation to hormone therapy. Mostly radiation is avoided but can be given in serious cases. Chemo can be safely administered any time after the first trimester. Hormone therapy is generally avoided until after the baby is born, as there are risk for damage to the little one.
Once these things have been confirmed, the doctor will then discuss treatment options with you. For some cancers, like breast cancer, surgery is recommended where the entire cancerous section is removed. It is then followed by targeted radiation or hormone therapy. Chemo is said to be unsafe only in the first trimester and can be given if the pregnancy has furthered along.
Yes there are times when in order to save the life of the mother, doctors ask for the termination of the pregnancy. But most researchers and doctors agree that this is not a necessity in majority of the cases. Even if the mother is not in a good condition as far as her cancer is concerned, the baby is not affected and can be delivered safely.
No matter what the situation, survival rate of mother as well as the baby with good health is high during pregnancy. So you do not need to give up or think that nothing can be done. Get in touch with your oncologist immediately and follow their recommendations as soon as possible.
People believe that getting cancer means they will never be able to live normally again. And this perhaps is the biggest misconception that needs to be cleared up. Cancer is treatable with the help of your medical doctor and oncologist and life can very much become better once it’s gone. You can do pretty much anything you want to, including becoming a mother!
You are sitting at the doctor’s and they have some grim news for you or your loved one. The tests show that it is cancer. The instant this news is delivered stress sets in. from herein, it is not only the disease that you will need to fight, but the horrible sensation of doom and gloom as well. For most cancer patients, it actually isn’t cancer itself they are dealing with, but the depression of this disease.
Nothing can beat the elated feeling knowing that you are pregnant. Married couples look forward to this miracle so that they can start a family and hold a life, which they have created together. But all the happiness could be shattered if the pregnant woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
As soon as cancer is mentioned, everyone starts running around looking to cure it or get rid of it as soon as possible. What most doctors, loved ones and even the patient themselves, seem to forget, is the mental and psychological well being of the sufferer. This is perhaps the worst mistake that anyone can make.
Did you know that hormonal imbalance is one of the major reasons for failure in weight loss among women and men? This may come as a surprise to you, but have you noticed how you have been eating all the right foods, exercising regularly yet no weight loss is occurring? Often the reason for this is you’re suffering from some kind of hormonal imbalance.
Weight loss is a big concern for many women. But when PCOS is also part of the deal, things become a lot more complicated. As per studies, whether PCOS lead to weight gain is something not definite, but it is true that when you are suffering from this condition, weight loss is very difficult. Not sure what is being talked about? Do you think you may be suffering from PCOS? Here are all the answers you seek.
Menopause is perhaps one of the biggest changes that women go through once they are done with puberty. It is like dealing with puberty all over again. Quite a few studies show that when women experience menopause, they experience an increase in their weight as well. There are many women who complain of finding it difficult to even maintain their original weight.
When it comes to portion control, there are different weight management theories. The concept of portion control revolves around counting calories in one portion of the meal and controlling calories in all meals for effective weight management.
