When diagnosed with cancer, the initial anxiety you experience is soon replaced by a fight for survival. To fall pregnant while suffering from cancer will just add more anxiety and should be avoided at any cost. Chemotherapy tends to throw your menstrual cycle into irregularity and even make it ‘disappear’ altogether. You must make birth control a priority whilst receiving chemo, radiation or hormone therapy. Although it is relatively uncommon to fall pregnant when receiving chemotherapy, it does not mean it’s impossible! The reason why it’s uncommon is because chemotherapy affects the cell growth and division of reproductive cells. But, because combinations of chemotherapy and other drugs vary in strengths, you might still have relatively undamaged reproductive cells, and consequently fall pregnant.

To receive the news of cancer when expecting life can be most scary! It has been noted that, whilst pregnant, cancers like melanoma, leukaemia, lymphoma, breast, cervical or colorectal cancers are the most likely types to strike. The chances of getting cancer whilst pregnant increase in older woman. Importantly to know is that the chances of getting a defected baby from receiving chemotherapy in the second or third trimester (from 13 to 42 weeks) are only 3% - 5%. Unfortunately, if chemotherapy is of utmost importance in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), termination of the pregnancy will consequently be your only solution.

When explained, you will understand why chemotherapy in the firs trimester will defect the foetus. The malformations – in particular in the craniofacial region and the limbs, happens due to the fact that in this period the foetus forms internally and externally by rapid cell growth. As mentioned before, chemotherapy affects cell growth tremendously, and as a result, harms the foetus. The statistics of zero abnormalities are so low, that risking chemo in the first 12 weeks is very seldom/never an option.

Administering chemo in the second and third trimesters has been very successful. It must be understood that it is not so much the type of chemo you receive, but more so the combination of drugs and the extended period of receiving it, that might harm your baby. Heavy combinations and long periods of gestation could interfere with the unborn baby’s brain development or reproductive system. This is not likely though, as your specialists wants what is best for both of you. The most common side effect on a foetus will be premature birth and/or low birth weight. It is also advisable to stop chemotherapy at least 3 weeks before birth, to minimise neonatal complications. NO radiation or hormone therapy should be received at any time during pregnancy!!

After birth, it will be sensible to have your baby monitored regularly to make sure he/she develops well, and are on par with pier goals. If you receive chemotherapy after the birth of your baby, you should not breastfeed. It has been found that the drugs in chemo will suppress the baby’s immune system, and might increase the risk of cancer in the baby.

After chemotherapy, your specialists will advise you not to fall pregnant for at least one year. If your husband received chemotherapy or radiation therapy, a two year waiting period could be necessary for the repair of genetic damage done to the sperm. Chances of birth defects from genetically damaged sperm won’t be higher than 6%. Under normal circumstances, defects occur in 2% - 3% of pregnancies.

As your specialists now have two lives to care for, they will take very special care of you both, every step of the way!