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Pregnancy after the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer

honeyharry
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Hi,

Please reply me, I am high in tension. I am 45 years old and dignosed papillary thyroid cancer in 2015 after that cancer and had raioiodine also which didn't work on my body so  reoccurrence of cancer 6 times And spread all my nodes and had 6 times surgeries. I am on high risk now. Today found out I m pregnant which hard for me to digest. Please tell what are the chance of cancer return. Will it come back on the same place (thyroid bed or near to lymph nodes) or other part of the body. Will the child born disable or low IQ level or SEN problem. 

Regards

  • Hi Honeyharry,

    Thanks for getting in touch, and welcome to our online community.

    My name is Ursula and I’m one of the Cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan support line. I am sorry to read of your history of papillary thyroid cancer, resulting in multiple recurrences and treatments.

    It’s understandable you have many concerns and questions after finding out you are pregnant. As we are independent of the NHS and do not have access to any medical records we cannot offer personalised advice. However, I hope that the following, more general information may be of some help.

    It’s natural to worry about a further recurrence whilst pregnant. In most cases pregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of cancer recurrence. Your team will be able to discuss any potential risks with you based on your history.

    General guidance is that women should avoid becoming pregnant for at least 6 months after completing radioactive iodine treatment.  As it is felt there is less risk of the radiation affecting a pregnancy after this time.

    There have been some studies looking at pregnancy outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.  One study published in 2022 concluded that a history of treated papillary thyroid cancer was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

    We would suggest speaking with your GP and contacting your specialist cancer team to discuss things in more detail. They can work alongside your antenatal team who are there to support you during your pregnancy. These specialists are in the best position to monitor you closely and individualise your care plan, based on your medical history and current care needs.

    It is also important to look after your emotional wellbeing during this time. Please do speak with your GP about how you are feeling. Or call and speak with one of our team on the support line.

    Sending best wishes,

    Ursula

    You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Ref: UH/JF

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