Pregnant during Chemo...HELP

Dearest Amy,



I hate to see your post go unanswered, less you think we don't care or wish to help. I know that's not the case. I looked at your post a couple of times, thinking, well I know a little. You ask a lot of complicated questions, Amy, heart renching questions for you and all, and so, with respect of your situation and a modicum of trepidation, as I don't know you, nor you me, what little I know, I'll pass on.



The first trimester of pregnancy, obviously, is one where the most critical groundwork for the fetus occurs, and the time of organ development. I've seen reports of chemotherapy exposure for breast cancer treatment in the second and third trimester, but none in the first due to fact it's the time for proper fetal development. Oncology guidelines warn the oncologist/patient receiving chemotherapy to not get pregnant. Should a pregnancy occur during this time, because of the effect of the agents on the fetus, there is a high miscarriage rate. Folate antagonists, 6-mercaptopurine, and some alkylating agents are known to be fetotoxic, but these are older drugs, and you received newer drugs. I've read that taxanes given in the second and third trimester seem to not have caused major harm, but I see nothing abut first trimester exposure. You don't say in your post, but the implication I got from your post is that you're in your first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or first trimester.



That having been said, the reality is you are pregnant. To help you, you might best turn to a doctor who specializes in genetics (a geneticist): they know how to look up drug effects on fetuses, or a maternal fetal medicine physician who also may be able to do a timely review. Good places to find these doctors are at IVF centers, pediatric hospital staff listings for the geneticist, and OBGYN departments of hospitals.



The specifics on your chemotherapy drugs and fetal toxicity can be looked up in the package insert or PDR by your oncologist and reviewed with you. The terms are complicated so I encourage this be done with a knowledgeable physician.



Maybe someone else will post soon about their knowledge. I hope that this helps, even if just to let you know we're listening and to provide you with avenues to turn to for more in-depth knowledge applicable to your situation.



I'm glad you have done well with your chemotherapy and received the bulk of the triad of drugs. Hopefully soon your oncologist will help you with your Herceptin question and more.



I wish I could help you more. I'll be thinking of you,

Tender

The board has been awfully slow since the changeover. This section is even slower b/c there's not that many of us young 'uns relative to the rest of the board.

Tender has given you some good advice and support. I'm sure a high-risk OB will be helpful, too.

Also, are you familiar with www.her2support.org? It's an amazing website for HER2 positive women, and I'm sure there must be some women over there who know about herceptin and pregnancy.

I'm so sorry that you're in this situation. Getting pregnant while on chemo has crossed my mind many times, and I have no idea what I would do. 

Best of luck and keep us posted on what the docs say. 

Yikes, this is a hard one.  I don't think anyone can tell you what you should do.  I am only 29 and I am scared to death of getting pregnant when I am doing chemo, and I would hate to be in your situation and try to make decisions.  I just want to wish you luck at finding answers and making a good decision.  As if life isn't complicated enough with breast cancer, huh!  Hugs to you!

Dear Amy,



Just wanted to followup and let you know, as others have above, how much I'm thinking of you.



I hope you will find your way back to this site, should you wish to do so, as we are here to support you all the way, in every way.



Thinking of you today,

Tender

Hi Amy,

I know this is really late but I barely found this web page.  It's really helped me reading everyone's responses or experiences.  I'm 26 yrs old and pregnant with breast cancer.   I actually found out at the same time.   My primary doctor told me that I wasn't going to be able to carry the baby to term and that it would be very difficult trying later.   I really don't know how to put it into words how exactly I felt; both situations are life changing.  After going to MD Anderson Cancer center, I made the choice to keep the baby.   Six rounds of chemo (FAC) later and seven months preggos,  I can't wait to see my baby.

I'm going to a maternal fetal medicine doctor and she keeps close tabs on me and the baby.  She weighs about 2 lbs 10 ounces.  I guess my point to this is weigh all your options and follow ur heart.  I had a lot of people telling me what they thought I should do, including my baby's father and doctors, but I realized that I was the one that would have to live with my decisions.  Anyways,  sorry for not being much help but I'll defintely keep you in my prayers.