Cancer During Pregnancy Doesn't Mean You Must Terminate: What Doctors Now Know
A cancer diagnosis during pregnancy doesn't automatically mean you must choose between your life and your baby's. One mother's story reveals how dangerous misconceptions about cancer treatment in pregnancy persist among healthcare providers, and how a second opinion can literally save two lives. As more women delay motherhood into their 30s and 40s, understanding what's actually possible during pregnancy becomes increasingly important.
What Happened When One Mom Got a Cancer Diagnosis at 15 Weeks Pregnant?
Reggie Hong was 35 years old and 15 weeks pregnant when she discovered a 4.2-centimeter breast tumor with an affected lymph node. Her initial oncologist delivered devastating news: he told her the baby wouldn't survive and recommended she terminate the pregnancy to pursue cancer treatment. Hong and her husband, who had already named their daughter Elaina, faced an impossible choice.
But that assessment was wrong. After seeking a second opinion at the University of Kansas Health System, Hong learned she could do both: receive chemotherapy and carry her pregnancy to term. She completed 12 weeks of chemotherapy while pregnant, delivered a healthy daughter, and both mother and baby survived.
Can You Really Receive Chemotherapy While Pregnant?
The short answer is yes, but timing matters.
"Chemotherapy should be avoided in the first trimester because it can be toxic to DNA development. But after 12 weeks, the health impacts to babies are minimal," explained Dr. Marc Parrish, a maternal fetal medicine doctor at the University of Kansas Health System.
Dr. Marc Parrish, Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor at University of Kansas Health System
Dr. Parrish noted that while chemotherapy exposure in the womb can make babies immunocompromised and anemic, both conditions are correctable after birth. Importantly, he has not observed any long-term health problems in children who were exposed to chemotherapy in utero.
Yet many women still face doctors who insist otherwise, creating unnecessary trauma and forcing impossible choices."We can successfully accomplish both goals of great cancer care and having a great full-term pregnancy," stated Dr. Jamie Wagner, a surgical breast oncologist at the University of Kansas Health System.
Dr. Jamie Wagner, Surgical Breast Oncologist at University of Kansas Health System
Why Are Doctors Still Telling Pregnant Women to Terminate?
The misconceptions are widespread and dangerous.
These false beliefs persist despite evidence that has existed for at least two decades showing cancer treatment and pregnancy can coexist."The biggest misconceptions are you can't carry a pregnancy if you're on chemotherapy, and if you do, you're causing harm to your baby. And I would say those are not true," Dr. Parrish noted.
Dr. Marc Parrish, Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor at University of Kansas Health System
The ability to treat cancer safely during pregnancy is not new, but the knowledge gap between what research shows and what patients are told remains dangerously wide. This disconnect can lead women to make irreversible decisions based on outdated or incorrect information.
How Common Is Cancer During Pregnancy?
Cancer diagnoses during pregnancy are becoming more frequent. A study published in BMC Cancer found that pregnancy-associated breast cancer cases increased from about 13 cases per 100,000 pregnancies in 1969 to 19 cases per 100,000 pregnancies by 2022. The American Cancer Society reports that thousands of cancer cases occur during pregnancy each year in the United States.
Breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia are the most common cancers diagnosed during pregnancy. One major factor driving this increase is maternal age. As women get older, their cancer risk rises, and the average maternal age in the United States continues to climb.
Why Are More Women Having Babies Later in Life?
Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows a striking trend: women over 40 are now having more babies than teenagers. In 2023, women aged 40 and older accounted for about 4% of all births, a more than threefold increase from just a few decades ago.
Advances in fertility technology have made this shift possible.
However, not all delays in parenthood are intentional. Many couples struggle with infertility, and others simply prioritize financial security and life experience before starting a family."Fertility technologies like IVF and egg freezing certainly lengthen the time and kind of slow that clock down," explained Dr. Dallas Reed, director of perinatal genetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
Dr. Dallas Reed, Director of Perinatal Genetics at Tufts Medical Center
Steps to Take If You're Planning Pregnancy or Diagnosed With Cancer While Pregnant
- Get a Second Opinion: If a doctor tells you that cancer treatment and pregnancy cannot coexist, seek another opinion from a maternal fetal medicine specialist or oncologist experienced in treating pregnant patients. Hong's second opinion literally saved her life and her daughter's life.
- Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Your Health History: Before pregnancy, discuss any family history of cancer, previous health conditions, or medications you're taking. This conversation helps identify risks early.
- Get 400 Micrograms of Folic Acid Daily: The CDC recommends this for all women of childbearing age who could become pregnant, as folic acid reduces the risk of birth defects.
- Cut Out Tobacco and Alcohol: Both substances increase cancer risk and harm fetal development. Eliminating them before and during pregnancy is critical.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity increases the risk of several cancers and pregnancy complications. Achieving a healthy weight before conception improves outcomes.
For women of any age planning to have children, these preventive steps can increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and reduce disease risk.
What Should You Do If You're Diagnosed With Cancer While Pregnant?
The most important action is to seek care from a multidisciplinary team experienced in treating cancer during pregnancy. This team should include an oncologist, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, and potentially other experts depending on your cancer type. Regular checkups and open conversations with your doctors help ensure both you and your baby receive appropriate care.
Hong's story underscores a critical lesson: always advocate for yourself. She was prepared to forgo cancer treatment entirely to protect her baby, but that sacrifice was unnecessary. Her willingness to seek a second opinion changed everything. For future mothers facing a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, that same persistence could save two lives.