My friend has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and she is 33 weeks pregnant

[Miaou]

I've only met her twice (just moved to the area) but we really hit it off straightaway. Today she told me that she has just found out she has breast cancer . This is her first child too (and I guess probably her last). The experts haven't decided what to do yet but they are having a multi-disciplinary meeting next week to decide on the best course of action (I guess both cancer specialists and obstetricians).

I'm going to see her on Monday but I'd love to be able to tell her some positive stories about women in her position or who have been through this.

[Littlefish]

Another positive story here. I have an friend who had breast cancer as a young woman. She has gone on to have a little girl, and is expecting her second any day now.

Best wishes to your friend Miaou.

[ConnorTraceptive]

not quite the same but a friend of mine was receiving treatment for breast cancer icluding chemo, steroids etc and she fell pregnant during treatment but because of all the side effects from the drugs she didn't realise until she was 7 months gone!

They were all very concerned what effect the treatment wold have had on the baby but her son was born perfectly healthy and she is now in remission

[agnesnitt]

A family member was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy at about 25 weeks (they waited till baby was viable, then strengthened lungs with drugs etc.) with no ill effect then was induced at about 36 weeks. She's physically fine now, 'baby' is about 18 months/2 years and she had re-constructive surgery recently.

It's a hard slog, but it's beatable.


Best of luck to your friend.

Agnes

[Miaou]

Thank you everyone - ronshar I will have a look and see if I can find that story online

[Miaou]

ronshar, I think this might be the article you meant? Thought I would link it here just in case anyone searches for this subject in the future.

[bozza]

No stinky pete it is my DD's birthday that is in May. Her DD's birthdays are both in March. I am in the Hudds/Wakefield?Barsnley triangle and have seen you posting on the meet-yp threads, but I am usually working when they are organised for.

[bozza]

Have you seen her miaou? How is she?

[ronshar]

Excellent it is always good to know that I am not completely barking mad! I am pleased you found the article. I just hope it brings a small grain of hope to your friend.

[ggglimpopo]

I have a friend who has been through this. Her little boy is now 10 and she is fit and well. She was advised to have no other children though (don't know exact reason why, her illness or the treatment or both?).

[wrinklytum]

Have nursed 2 people who were dx with cancer in latter stages pregnancy.Both had sucessful outcomes from treatment after baby born.Also other lady who conceived following treatment and had healthy baby.The chemo itself can render the woman infertile.Men can have sperm banking but is not so common to preserve eggs for woman.

Best wishes to your friend.xx

[bozza]

ggg I believe my friend was also advised this. I think her particular type of cancer was actually linked to pregnancy hormones, and so another pregnancy was quite a risk.

[bristols]

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and have one DS and another on the way. I wasn't pregnant at the time so the situation was quite different to that of your friend, but I just wanted to post another positive message about life after cancer.

I do hope your friend does well. Pregnant women can have operations under general anaesthetic so they may well do that immediately and then induce in a few weeks' time, as the others said. The chemo/radio could start then.

Hopefully things have been discovered early and all will be fine for her.

[Miaou]

Thanks for all your messages. I'm seeing her tomorrow or Tuesday, not spoken to her yet.

I guess that the "subsequent children" thing could be either due to pregnancy hormones aggravating the cancer, or infertility caused by chemo ... I guess she's not even thinking about that yet though.

(sorry don't think that makes much sense!)