Pregnancy after cancer treatment: What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thi Nha Hien - Internal Oncologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Before becoming pregnant, you should talk to your healthcare professional about the potential risks of pregnancy and delivery. Certain organs may need to be checked to make sure the pregnancy is safe.
Cancer is a difficult disease to treat, today with many modern treatment methods, cancer can be cured if detected early. Therefore, post-treatment problems are also of great concern. Pregnancy after cancer treatment is always the pain of cancer patients. It's best to reserve embryos or sperm before cancer treatment.

1. Pregnancy after cancer treatment

Generally, pregnancy after cancer treatment is safe for both mother and baby. Pregnancy does not seem to increase the risk of the cancer coming back. However, to help ensure a safe pregnancy, some women may be advised to wait a few years after cancer treatment before thinking about becoming pregnant. That time depends on several factors:
Type of cancer and stage of cancer Previous cancer treatments Age of woman Menstrual status after treatment Health care professionals recommend Women should not become pregnant for the first 6 months after finishing chemotherapy but should wait 2-5 years to be sure the cancer does not return before deciding to have children. Because, after the treatment process, damaged eggs and cancer cells can still exist in the body, it takes at least 6 months to "eject" these damaged and harmful elements out of the body. own body.
During cancer treatment, patients should actively prevent pregnancy, because there is still a possibility of pregnancy during treatment. Not only women but men should also know how to actively prevent pregnancy, because many chemotherapy drugs can affect sperm. If you become pregnant while on treatment, you should tell your doctor about the best way to manage it.

2. Cancer treatments can affect pregnancy

Patients with cancer undergo various cancer treatments including radiation, chemotherapy, drugs, and surgery. It can be said that these treatments more or less bring potential risks to the patient's future pregnancy.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy can affect the supporting cells and blood supply of the uterus. It also has the potential to increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and other problems. Surgery to the cervix: Removing any part of the cervix can increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. Chemotherapy: Anthracycline chemotherapy includes treatment with doxorubicin (available as a generic), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), epirubicin (Ellence), and idarubicin (Idamycin). These treatments can damage heart cells and weaken the heart, making pregnancy and labor more difficult. In addition, chemotherapy also leaves some unwanted side effects. Most women after successful cancer treatment will experience early menopause. As a result, the mother's fertility will be greatly reduced. Besides, the older you are, the more limited your chances of getting pregnant.

3. Fatherhood after cancer treatment

Men can still have children after cancer treatment ends. While there's no definite recommendation for how long men should wait after treatment, health care providers recommend waiting 2-5 years. Sperm can be damaged by chemotherapy or radiation. Those sperm should be replaced every 2 years to ensure a healthy future pregnancy.

4. Other worries about having children after cancer treatment

Children's risk of cancer Many people with cancer worry that their children may also get cancer. Research shows that the risk of cancer for children born to people with cancer and survivors of cancer treatment is not high. But some cancers are hereditary, meaning the disease can be passed from parent to child through genes.
If you have one of these inherited cancers, your risk of having a baby with cancer is also increased. It's best to talk with your doctor or genetic counselor about having children after cancer treatment to better understand cancer risk and genetics.
Risk of cancer recurrence Studies show that pregnancy does not seem to make the cancer come back. Breast cancer survivors should wait 2 years before deciding to become pregnant. Because during pregnancy, certain hormones increase that can cause breast cancer cells to grow.

Use of drugs Pregnant women after cancer treatment should stop taking certain medications. However, stopping drugs such as tamoxifen or imatinib increases the risk of the cancer coming back.
Difficulty having children after cancer treatment Some cancer treatments make it difficult or impossible for people to have children. Therefore, couples who want to have children need to consult with their doctors before starting cancer treatment. Doctors can help patients make options for preserving fertility.
Doctor Le Thi Nha Hien has many years of experience in the field of examination and diagnosis of oncological diseases and methods of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and palliative care. Currently, the doctor is working at the Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

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Article referenced source: Cancer.net