Having a baby after TC

Hello, 

There is some data about this on the oncolinc website , and even I was advised after one round of carbo to try to not have a baby in the next year. But I didn`t plan fathering a child just yet so I didn`t ask about why.. 

But on the oncolink website states: 

"A common concern is if a child will have birth defects caused by exposure of sperm to cancer therapies. Studies have found no increase in birth defects in the children of cancer survivors. Nor do these children have higher rates of cancer (this does not include families with genetic cancer syndromes).

The DNA of sperm can be damaged by cancer therapies, but this damage repairs itself. You should speak with your care team before fathering a child after treatment for cancer."

Or on the Macmillan website states : 

"Contraception

If you have sex during or after some treatments, you will need to use contraception. You should use condoms to protect your partner from cancer drugs or treatments that can affect your semen. Your doctor will give you advise about this.

It is also very important to use contraception with female partners to avoid pregnancy during and after cancer treatment. This is because the treatment can affect your sperm and harm a baby during pregnancy." 

But probably you should should ask a professional and also I believe here will be some people with their own experiences. 

Wishing you the best! 

Huni

Thank you for the reply and yes we were advised to use contraception etc and we did as we didn't have any plans to have another child which is why this has been such a shock for both of us we have spoke to the doctor's who treated my husband but it's a waiting game and one of which is driving us mad which is why I  was hoping for advise from here

I have been interested in this subject and I always see the same guidelines and advice. There are studies about cancer survivors having children but I haven't been able to find a study of pregnancies from sperm within one year of chemo.

Hi there,

Not sure if it helps but my boyfriend is currently having carboplatin treatment and he was told to use contraception for 3 months after completing treatment if that is any use?

Thank you for your replies and I have been unable to find anything about pregnancy from sperm after chemo and we are out of the 3 months it's just 4 months as it stands at the minute the Doc's who looked after my hubby have been in touch with our local hospital and have booked me in for a 6 week scan the report from this scan will be sent to a specialist hospital in Newcastle where they will analyse my hubby's info and treatment and details from my scan and they will hopefully be able to advise us from there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed in the hope we can carry on with the pregnancy

Hi dlbglacp. Similar situation here, but actually rushing to try to get pregnant before husband starts chemo in January. He was diagnosed with TC late September in both. One was already removed, partial surgery on the other to come in December. I've been wondering how chemo affects pregnancy so I am interested in your story. Please keep us posted and best of luck! 

Thanks for the best wishes and I will update you once I know this next week is going to be a killer waiting for Monday and I feel your frustration with trying to get pregnant and that's why is an even bigger shock to us cos our first child we were trying 2 and a half year child number 2 came along quicker than planned and child number 3 was 18 months trying and now all of a sudden within 4 month and being careful I'm now pregnant with number 4 is so unreal I'm keeping everything crossed and hoping we can continue with the pregnancy but it's hard doing it alone too we haven't told anyone yet cos we don't know what's to come 

Hi there can't really give any more info yet the details from the scan were sent to Newcastle although they were no help at all couldn't tell us anything other what we knew I am now 15 weeks and all was good at my 12 week scan still worried cos it's the 20 week one that will pick up if something is wrong we decided to tell people after the 12 week one as I was growing quite a bump so wouldn't be able to hide it any more I'm trying to be positive but the waiting for scans is lasting forever will update more after my 20 week scan.... Hope you got your baby wish xx

Hey there! I was just thinking about you this weekend and was going to post, but didn't want to pry. I'm glad things are going well for you, sounds so far, so good. Is there genetic testing you can have done to see if there would be any chance for down syndrome? It might be something to consider, though I think it can be expensive.

We haven't had any luck getting pregnant. Husband started chemo on the 28th of January so it's just getting started, 5 weeks left. So not entirely sure what the plan is yet. Maybe meet with a fertility Dr. And maybe IVF, just so expensive. But we do have sperm banked, so we will see. Take care and we will be in touch,

I have had the back of the neck fluid and routine bloods done for downs Edwards and something else and they came back low risk when I discussed it with the hospital they said they wouldn't recommend doing any further tests for it as the results are good so it's just a waiting game now til I go for my 20 week scan at the beginning of march