A diagnosis of cancer is traumatic but when women who are pregnant are diagnosed with cancer and especially breast cancer, they face even tougher decisions and emotional distress. The number one concern is will they have to lose their baby? There is no evidence that cancer itself will harm the baby. It is recommended not to breast feed if you are taking chemotherapy because harmful chemicals from the treatments can travel into the breast milk to the child.

Making the decision as to when to start treatments that could bring some harm to the baby is another concern. That is why it is very important to stay on top of self exams and doctor exams for early detection. An early stage cancer gives the mother to be a choice of having a lumpectomy or more simple operation and then later after the baby is born, start treatments. If the cancer is at a later stage and treatments are necessary, especially radiation, then it is going to be harder to protect the baby. Making the decision to postpone or when to start treatments is a tremendously hard thing to do. Discuss thoroughly all of your options with your doctor and oncologist the type treatments they need to treat your cancer and what those dangers or side effects might be to you and your baby. This will help you in making the best decision possible.

Doctors recommend that if you have breast cancer to wait several years if planning to have a baby. This will reduce the risks that your cancer will come back while you are pregnant.