Suffering from cancer is one of the toughest ordeals for any person;
however to be unable to rear a child after cancer can be even tougher
for a woman. Women who have suffered from cancer are at a juncture of
life where although they have survived their disease, they are unable to
reproduce. The thoughts of not being able to be a parent are harrowing;
however the right knowledge will help you overcome the problem. There
exist many misconceptions surrounding the issue, which will be discussed
further in the article.
Getting Pregnant
After
you have finished your cancer treatment, most oncologists suggest
waiting 2 to 4 years before planning parenthood. This is because
majority of recurrence occurs within this time frame; therefore it is to
ensure that you are healthy enough to support yourself as well as the
growing fetus. However, every person’s medical situation is different,
thus your healthcare provider will be able to guide you properly.
As
a woman, treatment via chemotherapy and radiation, may cause your eggs
to be genetically damaged, it is thus advisable to wait until those eggs
leave your body and are replaced by better ones.
Menopause
There is a misconception that women who reach their menopause
cannot conceive; in reality even if you have hit your menopause, you
have the ability to get pregnant. You may not be able to get pregnant
the natural way, but you can use the frozen eggs, frozen tissues or
embryos. While in menopause, you may require hormonal injections in
order to prepare your body for the pregnancy. If your uterus is healthy,
you should not face any difficulties.
Miscarriage
There
is an increased risk of miscarriage in those women who have received
radiation to their pelvic region. Miscarriage, low birth weight and
preterm delivery are some of the common problems faced by women who have
received radiation to their uterus. A specialist will evaluate your
uterus and guide you regarding which is the right time to conceive.
Complications
are also common if you have had fertility sparing gynecological
surgeries. For example, those who have had a radical trachelectomy,
continuous monitoring is required during the course of pregnancy and the
delivery too is usually a cesarean-section birth. Also, if your cervix
was removed, you have higher chances of miscarriage and preterm
delivery. You must be in consultation with your oncologist in order to
assess the risks. You can also consult a high risk obstetrician before
trying to get pregnant.
Health Risks
Radiation
and chemotherapy can cure you of cancer, but also cause long-term
health risks. Some of these risks may cause damage to your heart or
lungs which in turn make it difficult to carry a pregnancy. It is
therefore important that you consult your oncologist for the long-term
risks associated with your treatment plan. For example, many patients
during pregnancy are recommended regular echocardiograms in order to
ensure that their heart functions normally during the pregnancy term.
Children at Risk
Most
cancer survivors worry whether their children too will be susceptible
to cancer. But it is an unwarranted worry as research shows that a
parent with cancer does not cause the child to be susceptible. The child
is at the same risk as that of the general population. However the risk
may increase if the cancer is genetically linked; but a small
percentage of cancer are known to be genetically linked. Thus the risks
are not higher, as is the preconceived notion amongst cancer survivors.
As
a woman cancer survivor, you will have to assess the various risks
especially that of recurrence and decide as there are chances that you
may not be around after your child is bought into the world. Although it
may be highly emotional, it is necessary to weigh all the options and
address the problems before conceiving a child as the child’s future
depends upon your present decisions.Get relevant information to help patients combat the deadly disease.
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