community

all boards


birth clubs



my blog

Sort:
12-25-2012 at 12:30 PM
racheladin...
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-03-2009
Vancouver, WA
38 Points
racheladine is not online. Last active: 12-25-2012, 12:30 PMNewbie

chemotherapy concerns

Does anyone have any knowledge of potential pregnancy complications/birth defects if the fathertobe is curreently undergoing aggresive chemotherapy treatment?

Some background:

DH was diagnosed with grade IV brain cancer in May 2011, roughly six months after our son was born. I still had not gotten my period back at that point and since we were told to refrain from sex, I never resumed my birth control. We have slipped up though, and been intimate maybe a half a dozen times in two years. We have ALWAYS used a condom.

Most recently was about two and a half weeks ago, and I fear I might be pregnant. The past week and a half I have had some hadaches, intense back pain, overall feeling of queasiness, increased urination, slight fatigue, feeling warm, etc. I can't say that I would attribute this to stress, and generally I am in excellent health. I feel icky, but don't feel SICK, if that makes sense. And generally my periods are mild, with moodiness as my only PMS symptom.

I can get my period around the 21st or 22nd, or sometimes as late as the 26th, so I'm not TRULY late yet and am reluctant to take a test because my chances for a false negative are still high.

DH is in a clinical trial for an experimental combination of chemotherapy drugs and infusions. I was wondering if anyone knows what can happen if the father is on Avastin and/or Temodar at time of conception? Everything I've read online is about mothers and chemo, I haven't found much on fathers.

Any insight is deeply appreciated.

I should note that I plan to see a doctor immediately upon a positive test. We don't see our oncologists for another two weeks, so talking to them now isn't a possibility. I haven't yet told DH, as I don't want to worry him until we know for sure.
 
12-25-2012 at 12:45 PM
sthomas122...
Not Ranked
Joined on 06-10-2012
11,053 Points
sthomas1222 is not online. Last active: 04-07-2013, 6:30 PMBronze

My knowledge is very little about chemo and cancer but I'd think the biggest concern is just damage to the sperm cells themselves. Now how much damage and what the effects are to the fetus are totally out of my realm and would most likely depend on how much damage, if any had occurred. Of course this is all conjecture on my part... The oncologist will of course have better, accurate information. Sometimes these warnings are just due to a lack of the unknown. Men's sperm cells don't have a long "shelf-life" so no matter what it's hard to say even if they know potential side-effects b/c each individual reacts differently and all that...

Best of luck to you and prayers for DH! 


 photo be1a8386-23ff-434a-beaf-1408a16593dd_zpsd844a7d8.jpg  Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker  
12-25-2012 at 4:56 PM
caden1206
Not Ranked
Joined on 09-08-2012
37,806 Points
caden1206 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 11:33 PMSilver
I think pp gave good information. I pray your husband regains his health.

 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
12-25-2012 at 6:33 PM
Ann003
Not Ranked
Joined on 10-29-2006
Washington (the state, not D.C.)
22,043 Points
Ann003 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 9:45 AMSilver
Like PP said, any issues would arise with the sperm themselves. You may have to undergo additional genetic testing during your pregnancy. Also, make sure you don't touch any of your husband's medications or bodily excretions gross, but I gotta add it while he's in treatment. The whole point of chemo is to disrupt cell division and growth, so you definitely don't want that happening to the baby. I wish you the best of luck.


TTC #1 since May 2010. BFP #1 - 5/31/10; m/c on 7/22/10
Started seeing RE in August 2011
5 IUIs: BFN; IVF #1 - Success! BFP - 7/25/12 Lilypie Premature Baby tickers 
12-25-2012 at 10:57 PM
JabberJay
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-03-2012
2,247 Points
JabberJay is not online. Last active: 05-05-2013, 11:07 PMNewbie
I have no advice that is on-point to your question, but I wanted to say hi and offer hugs.


My DH was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2011 as well. I was 14ish weeks pregnant at the time. My DH had a complete resection (high grade II astrocytoma) at that time. They told us that it almost certainly would come back, but that we had an average of 7 years until recurrence. Also, I had some complications during delivery of that pregnancy, and our son passed away while I was in labor.

Fast forward to this November. I am pregnant again, and a routine MRI turned up new growth (only 18 months later). DH had surgery 2 weeks ago to remove the new tumor. We are waiting on a second opinion on the pathology, but it looks like Grade III.

DH will be starting radiation AND Temodar when I am 34 weeks.

I haven't met many people who can relate to what we are going through, so I just wanted to reach out and say hi, and let you know that you are welcome to PM me at any time.


Loving my Little Bird (DD 3), Missing my Monkey Butt (DS) and Hoping for my Rainbow - due 2/17/13 
12-25-2012 at 11:30 PM
JabberJay
Not Ranked
Joined on 04-03-2012
2,247 Points
JabberJay is not online. Last active: 05-05-2013, 11:07 PMNewbie
I did find this if it helps:


http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/guidetocancerdrugs/temozolomide


Loving my Little Bird (DD 3), Missing my Monkey Butt (DS) and Hoping for my Rainbow - due 2/17/13 
12-29-2012 at 12:49 PM
IncogNeato
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-22-2009
Nowhereville
21,741 Points
IncogNeato is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 8:00 PMGold

Not sure if you're still checking this thread but my DH was diagnosed with testicular cancer when I was in my first trimester. He hadn't started chemo when we conceived but we ended up working really hard to make sure I did not come in contact with bodily fluids or his meds during his treatment.

I think the biggest concern for you would be the possibility of the baby having a defect due to the chemo's effect on the sperm but if you are indeed pg I would just push for an early U/S to check on things. My best guess would be that the likelihood of a miscarriage due to a chromosomal defect would be somewhat higher in babies conceived by  men undergoing chemo. It all depends, though, and I know people have had successful pgs under similar circumstances so GL!


Photobucket
Baby girl was born at 36 weeks after PPROM at 5lb, 4 oz
1 month 7 lb, 4oz
2 mo. 8 lb, 10 oz
6 mo. 12 lb, 7oz
9 mo 14 lb, 10oz
12 mo 15 lb, 14oz
18 mo 19 lb, 4oz
Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
Lilypie First Birthday tickers
Born at 39 weeks! 5lb, 13oz 
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board