Decision about delaying rads/hormone treatment while pregnant

Rubyroo · June 2017

Hi everyone. I am 31 and was diagnosed a month ago with IDC. I am also 19 weeks pregnant.

I got my path report from my lumpectomy yesterday. My tumour is multifocal, but I am at stage 1, grade 2. They removed four lumps in total (only three lumps were anticipated so I found this disconcerting) and a 4 cm area of DCIS, but all 5 lymph nodes are clear.

The surgeon said a committee of surgeons/oncologists reviewed my case and couldn't decide whether to recommend chemo to me based on the pathology report and said it would likely be my decision. Due to the pregnancy, I am told I can't get rads or hormone therapies until after I deliver. I'm waiting to talk to my oncologist on Thursday, but in the meantime I am wondering if anyone had delayed radiation and hormone therapy, approximately 5 months after surgery? I am hoping my oncologist will order an Oncotype test for more clarification but am not sure how common that is here.

I don't want to opt for chemo if the benefits don't outweigh the adverse effects, but I feel nervous about not having any further treatments until after I am due at the end of October. I have come across certain articles that mention rads as being a possibility later in pregnancy if the fetus is properly shielded - has anyone heard of this?

Hoping for any insights at all - I fear I have a very difficult decision ahead of me. I don't want to get chemo if the benefits don't outweigh the side effects and I am hopeful to enjoy the rest of this pregnancy this summer without undergoing chemo, but I also don't want to have anxiety about declining chemo. I tend to lean towards less intervention when it comes to my health, but obviously I am out of my league with cancer...