Can Maternal Breast Cancer Treatment Harm an Unborn Child?

 Posted on October 10, 2024 in Birth Injury

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All women, including expectant mothers, are reminded to undergo regular screening for this form of cancer. Early detection increases the effectiveness of treatments. However, some forms of cancer treatments can harm unborn babies.

Was your child harmed by its mother’s breast cancer treatment during pregnancy? Can you get compensation through a birth injury claim? The knowledgeable Chicago, IL lawyers at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. can tell you if you qualify and explain your legal options.

Can I Get a Mammogram While Pregnant?

Mammography is one of the most common methods of diagnosing breast cancer. With proper safety precautions, these procedures should not hurt unborn children. If you know you are pregnant, inform the technician performing your mammogram.

According to the National Cancer Institute, over 25 percent of mammograms given to pregnant women give false negative results. A biopsy is recommended to ensure a correct diagnosis. Because a biopsy can be performed with local anesthesia, it typically does not harm babies.

How Can Breast Cancer Treatments Harm Unborn Babies?

If you find out that you have breast cancer while pregnant, you may have to delay treatment to safeguard your child. There are various forms of treatment for breast cancer, including surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy. Depending on your pregnancy stage and the recommended treatment, your oncologist should consult with a high-risk pregnancy obstetrician. If you need surgery to remove the cancer, be aware that some anesthesia drugs may be harmful.

Many treatments commonly used for breast cancer are unsafe for babies during the entire pregnancy. Chemotherapy should not be administered during the first trimester or after 35 weeks of pregnancy. Although this therapy should not harm the child in the remaining stages of pregnancy, it can increase the chance of maternal injuries during delivery.

Oncologists, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists should be aware of the many potential dangers of breast cancer treatment during pregnancy. Children may be affected by:

• Slow fetal development
• Birth defects
• Miscarriage
• Higher chance of developing childhood cancer

In addition, mothers who plan to breastfeed should be informed that doing so while undergoing breast cancer treatment can harm their babies because the breast milk will likely be contaminated.

Do I Qualify for Compensation If My Breast Cancer Treatment Harmed Me or My Baby?

Healthcare providers must uphold high standards of care. For instance, they should fully inform you of the risks associated with breast cancer treatment during pregnancy, and they should not administer dangerous treatment.

When medical professionals harm their patients through negligence, a medical malpractice claim is sometimes possible. If you qualify, you could receive damages for medical expenses, ongoing care, lost income, pain and suffering, and other eligible losses. Call Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. now so we can evaluate your eligibility and help you determine your next steps.

Call Our Compassionate Chicago, IL Birth Injuries Lawyers

When you trust Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. to help, we will work diligently to hold the at-fault parties accountable for the harm done to you and your child. Call us at 312-462-4200 to speak with one of our skilled Cook County, IL maternal injuries attorneys.