Effects of prenatal exposure to chemotherapy

We believe that our findings have the potential to change clinical practice in three situations. Firstly, the fear for the negative effects of chemotherapy should not be a reason to terminate pregnancy. Secondly, the fear for chemotherapy should not be a reason to delay maternal treatment. Thirdly, the fear for chemotherapy should not be a reason to decide to deliver the fetus prematurely in order to start chemo after delivery. Regarding the latter, we believe that children suffer more form the long term consequences of prematurity when compared to chemotherapy

Bibliographic Reference:

Amant F et al.: "Long-term cognitive and cardiac outcomes after prenatal exposure to chemotherapy in children aged 18 months or older: an observational study", Lancet Oncol. 2012 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Frederic Amant

Leuven Cancer Institute, Gynaecologic Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium