Cancer and Pregnancy: An Update on my Treatment

When I started chemotherapy, the plan was for me to go through 6 rounds of chemo. My oncologist, Dr. Kingsley said I would receive a PET scan after 4 rounds, would probably have a cancer-free scan, and then receive two more rounds of chemo treatments. This was exciting because it meant I would finish my chemo treatments at 33 weeks pregnant! I loved the idea of finishing chemotherapy before my due date because then I could really just focus on having a baby. It was such a relief that I wouldn’t have to worry about a newborn and chemotherapy at the same time. I would have my chemotherapy and then have my newborn. Separate experiences. Perfect.

After my fourth round of treatment, Dr. Kingsley ordered my awaited PET scan. Typically, this would not be done during pregnancy because it is not safe for the baby. We chose to pursue it still because it was essential to my treatment. I was so nervous about the PET scan! Dr. Kingsley assured me that he thought all the cancer would be gone. I couldn’t help but wonder if this would really be the case. 

When we met with Dr. Kingsley to review the results of the scan he sat down with us and said, “Well, we didn’t get the clear scan we were hoping for.” My heart sank. How bad was it? Would I be able to overcome this?

Let me back up: Before starting chemotherapy, patients usually receive a PET scan to detect where the cancer is in their body. Since I was pregnant, I received about 8 MRIs instead of a PET scan. It’s not as effective as a PET scan in showing the cancer, but it would give us a good place to start. 

The MRI results showed I had tumors in my pelvis area, my stomach, my chest, and my underarm. No wonder I was in so much pain!

Back to Dr. Kingsley’s office: The PET scan showed that the only remaining cancer was in my underarm. Even though I was bummed that there was still cancer remaining, I was amazed that so much of it was gone! The tumor in my stomach, the tumors in my chest, the painful tumor in my pelvic area- all of that was gone!

Since I still had cancer remaining, he said the 6 rounds of chemo we originally planned on would no longer be enough. The body needs two rounds of chemo after its last clear scan, so the new plan was to finish my 6 rounds, hope for a clear scan, and then do two more rounds after that. This would put me through a total of 8 rounds of chemotherapy.

Our main concern now was the baby. She had already been through one PET scan, which wasn’t safe for pregnancy. Putting her through another PET scan did not seem wise. We decided it would be best to let her be born after my 6th round of chemo, have a PET scan after she was born, and then continue chemotherapy after that. 

As I’m typing this, I just had my 6th round of chemotherapy. We will be induced at 35 weeks so she can be born between treatments and before my next PET scan. It’s hard to believe our baby will be here so soon. I’m in awe of how much she’s been able to endure and how strong she’s been through it all. I truly cannot wait to meet her.