Sadly, a woman’s tragic story– recently all over the news– plays out in the real world more often than people may realize. The devastating tale of Carrie DeKlyen who just died after succumbing to brain cancer, which was discovered after becoming pregnant and declining certain treatments to protect her unborn baby, ends with more misfortune. The baby she continued to carry beyond her own lost consciousness, who was born prematurely as a result, has also died.
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The discovery of the pregnancy made her ineligible for experimental therapies and chemotherapy. She opted to continue with the pregnancy of her sixth child and forgo these treatments that would be contraindicated for her baby.
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Unfortunately, there are a number of situations where moms develop conditions that warrant significant interventions while pregnant. The choices can be impossible ones. They vary substantially. Some treatments may pose minimal risk to the infant and can genuinely save the mother. […] The answer of next steps is not always obvious and rarely simple. All chemotherapies and their effects are not alike. Some can pose less adverse effects to the baby, while others could be catastrophic ranging from short- and long-term disability to fetal demise or premature labor etc.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Pregnant Mother’s Impossible Choice: Treat Cancer Or Harm Her Baby
