pregnancy

isletcell
isletcell Member Posts: 61 Member
edited March 2014 in Young Cancer Survivors #1
Just wanted to know how long you have to wait before having a baby? My surgeon said to go ahead but its only been 6 months since i had a modified whipple operation to remove a tumor on the pancreas that went into the lymph nodes?? I had no chemo or radiation but it seems like this might be too soon. Who gives the go ahead?? Surgeon,md,oncologist??
Any info would be helpfull.

Thanks,
Jen

Comments

  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 30
    #2
    hey jen,
    i don't think it really matters if your doctors give you the ok. It's up to you. Do you feel ready even with the doctors ok? You shouln't be pressured into having a baby, they're a lot responsiblity. If your doctors give you the ok and you feel it's time then go ahead, but if you still have ok and you don't feel ready then wait. I think that's the best thing to do.

    I hope this helped,
    erica10
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #3
    Hi again, my onc said to wait one year from the time the chemo is finished, my surgeon said 6 months, so you see, they are all different......I would say, if you want to get pregnant go for it! At least you won't be able to have any scans, etc. and so you won't be worrying about all that again. On the other hand, after what you went through before, are you willing to risk that again w/ another new baby? Have you asked your doctors what the amount of time is that would have to pass for you to be "out of the woods" so to speak? I know for my type of cancer most recurrences happen in the first 6 months. The longer you go after that point, the risk begins to drop of exponentially. It really is ultimately up to you. It is your life and no one can make this sort of decision for you. You are only 33 right? So you have time to wait if you decide that is what you should do.
  • efw
    efw Member Posts: 20
    #4
    My oncologist wants me to wait until I'm 2 years post-diagnosis, which will be next January. I'm currently 31 years old, and my husband and I would've started trying a year ago had I not ended up with cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer (27 out of 29 nodes), so I am at a high risk for recurrence, but some days I worry that I may be missing my window of opportunity, since I know that early menopause is a strong possibility after chemo. Although I don't even know if I can get pregnant after going through chemo.
  • sschwanke
    sschwanke Member Posts: 4
    #5
    I'm going through radiation for a head/neck cancer. I was told the earliest to try for pregancy is 6 mo. to 1 year after treatment. I'm sure it's different for everyone, depending on placement of various treatments, strength of various treatments, etc. As a side note, the chance of reoccurance for my type of cancer is significantly reduced after 3 years. I suppose idealy that's the best time for me, but I don't want to wait.

    Go with what your doctor's recommend AND you're comfortable with. You may want to obtain a couple of opinions on it.

    Sabrina
  • Paulalaff
    Paulalaff Member Posts: 4
    #6
    I know how you are feeling. I'm 30 and just had a part of my kidney removed for cancer. I was pregnant in January and miscarried. I asked the doctor who did my surgery when I could try again and he said if I got pregnant tomorrow it wouldn't hurt. He said not to plan my life around my follow up CT scans that I will have to have. My first one is in January so I am going to wait until after it. I just want to make sure everything is okay before I try again. It is hell losing a baby. But losing my baby also saved my life. I think you should discuss this with your surgeon, MD, and oncologist and see what all of them have to say. You also want to be sure you are well enough physically to carry it. That's probably the biggest thing.

Discussion Boards