Pregnancy possible for cancer survivors: Research

BUNDLE OF JOY: Daphne is a recent cancer survivor and getting pregnant was the last thing on her mind.

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Daphne Babrow has become a new mother. Daphne however, is also a recent cancer survivor and getting pregnant was the last thing on her mind after going through three rounds of chemotherapy.

“I was in a fight for my life, so that's all the strength I had was just cancer, you know ovarian cancer unfortunate. But I had to fight it and I had to win,” says Daphne.

Daphne is among a growing number of cancer survivors who are not only winning the battle but also going on to have a safe and successful pregnancy.

“If you maintain some part of your fertility, pregnancy is clearly an option,” says UConn Health Center, Dr Carolyn Runowicz.

Daphne conceived without help from a fertility specialist.

Experts say there are no specific guidelines for women wanting to get pregnant after cancer treatment. But that doesn't mean it is right for everyone and some breast cancer survivors are told to wait at least two years to make sure aggressive tumors don't recur.

“Pregnancy is an enormous surge of hormones and if you have a cancer that is hormone sensitive you just worry that you can exacerbate a recurrence,” says Dr Runowicz.

So far, Daphne is doing fine and so is little Evan, her son.

“I counted the fingers and toes so many times I couldn't believe it. Finally I realised that it was really true, I really did have a baby,” says Daphne.