Handbook of childbirth is safe for people with cancer

Discontinue treatment for six months to two years depending on the cancer, stage of disease, age . then you can become pregnant.

People with cancer are getting more and more, in which many young patients still want to have children after treatment. In order to have a successful and safe birth for both mother and child, you should understand your health condition carefully.

When should I become pregnant after treatment?

The decision to conceive should be proactive. Usually after stopping treatment for six months to two years the patient may become pregnant. This time depends on the part of the cancer, the stage of disease, age, menstrual status after treatment, previous treatment . People with cervical cancer, ovarian cancer . should wait longer time after treatment to get pregnant, compared to people with cancer in the head or neck.

When treating cancer, patients should actively prevent pregnancy. Not only women but also men should actively prevent pregnancy because many chemotherapy drugs affect sperm. If pregnant during treatment, the patient must tell the doctor to discuss the best treatment.

When treating cancer, patients should actively prevent pregnancy.(Artwork: health).

Does it affect the fetus?

Answer is possible. However, there are no studies to determine the specific impact level. Most anticancer drugs are toxic to cells, which can theoretically harm the fetus, or direct radiation to the pelvis can cause uterine inflammation, ovarian changes.

Some studies noted that the postpartum and fetal status is still not significantly different from those born to healthy mothers. The rate of preterm and low birth weight increases slightly in children whose mothers have cancer but this does not affect the baby's development later on.

How new drugs such as targeted treatment or immunotherapy affect the fetus have not been studied in detail. Experts recommend avoiding these drugs during pregnancy or at least in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Pregnancy has a negative effect on cancer?

Studies show that pregnancy does not aggravate cancer, if it is due to delaying treatment during pregnancy.

Can a cancer father have children?

Cancer treatments can all affect a man's ability to have children including direct impact on sperm, reducing sperm count and semen. However, the effect is still unclear, depending on the type of cancer, the age of the patient . Therefore, the patient is advised to have a baby for at least six months after stopping treatment or using complex ways. more trash like cold sperm storage .

When do cancer patients need special monitoring?

There are currently no special monitoring guidelines for pregnancy for mothers with cancer. Basically, it is still a periodic monitoring according to the coordinated schedule of obstetricians and oncologists. In particular, note the side effects due to chemotherapy such as hypotension (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets), infections, heart failure . can affect the fetus.

Depending on the type of cancer, stage, patient's condition and gestational age, the oncologist must work closely with the obstetrician to choose the best way for the patient. If possible, start treating cancer when the patient is born. Tumor surgery is generally safe during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Chemotherapy can still be done as long as it closely monitors and handles drug-related complications.

Advances in the field of infertility treatment such as storing embryos, eggs or sperm . and using them after cancer is stable, helps a few patients. However, these methods must be pre-calculated and the implementation is quite complicated.

After giving birth, the patient can breastfeed, but consult with the oncologist about the specific medications used.