Cancer survivors can now enjoy parenthood

Pregnancy in cancer survivors is no longer a fool’s hope. Today, healthcare has advanced to an extent that it can give a new lease of life to women who suffered the traumas of cancer and who thought that they would never be able to conceive.

A 24-year-old beautician, Praveena Ebenezer, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when she was 16. Although she was cured post treatment, after marriage, she had to undergo three abortions.

“Praveena had a bone tumour on the lower left limb. During treatment, her left leg had to be amputated. Now, she has an artificial limb. As part of her oncology treatment, she had been given six cycles of chemotherapy along with local radiotherapy,” said Dr Kamini Rao, medical director, Bangalore Artificial Conception Centre (BACC).

Here’s the rub: Chemotherapy destroys tissues of ovaries and testicles, making it difficult for cancer survivors to attain parenthood. The only solution is to save the gametes before chemotherapy session. However, in Praveena’s case, the eggs were not saved and she had to undergo three abortions every six months.

“Three miscarriages every six months left me hopeless. Doctors were unable to give me any explanation for my miscarriages. Every time, within the first trimester, I would have an abortion. Maybe the two-year long chemotherapy that I underwent was one of the reasons,” said Praveena.

Three months ago, when Praveena conceived, she was once again hopeful. “After the scan, my gynaecologist told me that the baby’s heartbeat is absent and I should abort the child. That’s when I went to Dr Kamini Rao for an opinion,” said Praveena.

“We scanned her and saw a flicker of the baby’s heartbeat. We found that it was not a case of failing pregnancy. She was a victim of hypothyroidism. To register her, we obtained a permission from the oncosurgeon who said that there is no contraindication for continuation of pregnancy as there was no possibility of recurrence after six years,” said Dr Rao.

Besides, Praveena also had a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia, which attributed to her earlier miscarriages. This condition can be treated with folic acid and other vitamin supplements.

The growth of the foetus was slow. Praveena had been treated appropriately and she has now safely completed her first trimester. Now that doctors foresee a safe pregnancy and delivery, Praveena is again full of hope and confidence.