Life after cancer: Can cancer survivors still bear children?

At 41, ovarian cancer survivor Daphne Babrow was doubly lucky to become a mother.

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Ob-gyns, like Dr. Cristian Andronic and Dr. Michael R. Leb would agree that Babrow’s case is not an isolated one. Hers was just one among the increasing number of stories of cancer survivors who have lived to have healthy and successful pregnancies.

Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, a breast cancer survivor herself, explains: "If you maintain some part of your fertility, pregnancy is clearly an option."

This is promising for cancer survivors who want to get pregnant. The director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut in Farmington further affirms that the possibility of cancer survivors bearing children is absolute, depending on the type of cancer they had. Some experts have also noted that cancer itself rarely harms the baby, and that some cancer treatments are safe during pregnancy.

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However, doctors warn that some cancers, as well as radiation procedures, can cause infertility. Others can even bring about the removal of reproductive organs.

With this, it’s crucial for women to discuss with their doctors the best fertility options that suit them. For the meantime, women should not lose hope when trying to get pregnant while their disease is on remission. As Babrow puts it, "I knew if I ever had a baby, it was God's little message that I was going to live on."

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Many women face the hurdles of a high-risk pregnancy due to an illness, like cancer. This Facebook page links to more online articles about obstetrics and gynecology.