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Pregnancy and Cervical Cancer Treatment?
Question : Pregnancy and Cervical Cancer Treatment?
I have just been treated for cervical cancer and had the cells burnt off, while it came back and they found the cancer in the gland near my cervix, so they did radiation treatment, i have also been taking antidepressants for the last 6 months, i found out today that i am 6 weeks pregnant and my doctor and specialist have told me that it is best to terminate the pregnancy as the radiation and tablets can cause some serious birth defects, im devastated and wanting to know what other people think i should do,
Any advice would be great thanks
cervical cancer treatment
Best answer:
Answer by goldie_10_99
I’m very sorry you’re having to deal with this sort of thing. If it were me, I’d follow your Dr’s advice & terminate the pregnancy. He’s right..the radiation & other medications can seriously harm the baby; which isn’t something you want.
You may not like what I’m about to suggest to you further. If you’ve had cervical cells burnt off because of cancer, then it was discovered there was cancer in the glad near the cervix, WHY not ask your Dr. about having a hysterectomy. Certainly, this will prevent you from having children, but at least the risk to your life will be greatly lessened. You didn’t say how old you are, & the Dr. may take that into consideration when discussing hysterecomy, BUT I’d never want to deal with cancer treatments if I didn’t have to.
Any procedure or medication that interferes with the functioning of the testes or ovaries affects fertility. The choices made before cancer treatment begins can determine whether the patient will remain fertile after treatment.
Radiation is known to damage the highly sensitive sperm and eggs. Just as chemotherapy attacks healthy cells, so does radiation. If the area needing irradiation is the pelvis, the reproductive organs are at great risk of damage. When radiation is done to the pelvic area, women often experience a pause in menstruation, along with other symptoms of menopause. There may also be vaginal dryness, itching, and burning. Radiation may affect sexual desire as well. These changes may be temporary or permanent, and it may take up to a few years to determine if the effects were temporary or permanent.
Since radiation can be harmful to the fetus, pregnancy during radiation therapy is contraindicated, and because the full effect of the radiation on fertility cannot be predicted.
So, in your case it is highly recommended to terminate the pregnancy. I do not think there is any chance to save the pregnancy not to speak of other shortcomings and difficulties. Please do as advised by your doctor and do not worry or get depressed. If everything goes on alright you will get pregnant again and have a child depending on the severity of cancer and radiation treatment given to you. Best of luck. -