Cervical cancer and Pregnancy
7/14/2021 4:48:39 PM
The content of the article is advised by Dr. Phung Thi Phuong Chi
Cervical cancer is a dangerous gynecological cancer with the second-highest morbidity and mortality among female genital cancers in Vietnam. So women with cervical cancer can get pregnant and give birth and have any effect on the fetus during pregnancy or not? We invite you to read through the article below.
1️. What is cervical cancer?
The cervix is a part of the uterus, where the vagina meets the uterus, covered with a thin layer of tissue composed of many cells. Cervical cancer (CC) is caused by the abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in the cervix. The cells multiply and create a tumor in the cervix.
2️. I have cervical cancer. Can I get pregnant?
Cervical cancer is currently treated as follows:
Metaplasia and cancer in situ
The treatment methods used are electrocautery or laser ablation or freezing abnormal cells, sometimes performing a cone surgery, a painless treatment with a cure rate of 100%.
Most of all, the above treatments do not affect sexual interest and fertility in the future, so in this case, cervical cancer patients can ultimately have children. However, in some cases, a hysterectomy is performed in the presence of other pathological symptoms, and in this situation, the patient will no longer be able to bear children.
Invasive cancer
This case requires more extensive treatment, with radical surgery to remove the uterus and surrounding tissues, including dissection of the pelvic lymph nodes, sometimes with combined radiotherapy with surgery or radiotherapy alone. In some cases, chemotherapy is necessary. If the patient has had a hysterectomy, she will not have children in the future.
In some early-stage invasive cervical cancer cases, it is now possible to apply hysterectomy and part of the vagina while preserving the uterine body to help keep the woman's fertility. Female.
Thus, the fertility of patients with cervical cancer depends on whether the treatment includes hysterectomy or not. If the uterus is not removed, the patient can ultimately become pregnant and give birth later.
3️. How does having cervical cancer during pregnancy affect the fetus?
Cervical cancer does not directly affect the fetus, but treatment does. Treatment options vary depending on the gestational age and stage of the tumor.
If detected at a very early stage, it can be delayed until the fetus is mature, then intervene to preserve the life of both mother and child. In the late stages of pregnancy, it is common to evaluate cesarean section intervention when the fetus is mature enough to treat the mother. In contrast, if the cancer is at a late stage, detected in the early stages of pregnancy, it is often necessary to terminate the pregnancy and treat cervical cancer immediately.
🤰 Therefore, it is essential during pregnancy to have regular antenatal check-ups to promptly detect precancerous lesions and early-stage cervical cancer for effective treatment.
With modern treatments, young women with early-stage disease can be treated to preserve fertility, and they are completely capable of having children later.