what would YOU do?

[CalebsMama05]

I was chatting with a friend of mine who casually mentioned that her sister might have cancer in her cervix and that *they* might have to induce before she goes to term...that they might just give her a c-section.

now i was appalled at that...even if i HAD cancer I would still insist my child be allowed to *bake* for as long as s/he needs to...and esp. since the only reason *they* think she has cancer is from a pregnancy pap...doesn't pregnancy skew the results a bit on that? aside from THAT i know a lot of paps come back pos when they are really neg. (or should i say abnormal when they are really normal?)

so my answer is...I would never for ANY reason be induced and definately not before term! what would YOU do?

[MrsHenderson]

I don't know much about cancer, but some can "get you" pretty quick if left untreated. With that said, I'd get a second opinion and a third before I did anything drastic like induce. I hope she ad the baby will be okay.

[momsmyjob]

I too would get a second opinion, even a third. It's a hard decision, it would depend on a lot of things. The type of cancer, how far along I was in my pregnancy, etc.

[~pi]

so my answer is...I would never for ANY reason be induced and definately not before term! what would YOU do?
I have medical problems that mean that an induction may be the lowest-risk option for me and the babe, depending on how we are doing as we get near term.

I think it's really easy to say you wouldn't do it if you aren't facing that situation. Really easy. Until I got pregnant, I thought I would absolutely refuse any induction, but now that the babe is real and so are the risks, I'm less absolutist and narrow-minded about it.

I still intend to discuss all the options and their risks and benefits with my MW and OB, but really, it may come down to the fact that I would rather have a live baby at 38 weeks than run a significant risk of a stillbirth at 40.

In the situation of your friend's sister, I would certainly investigate my options, and make a decision based on the aggressiveness of cancer, the options available, the information available and the expected outcomes for each scenario.

I think that one steps outside the sphere of informed choice when one refuses to rationally consider a particular option. Yes, there are risks to induction, and those should not be minimized. However, there are risks to cancer as well, so IMO, a risk-benefit analysis would be in order.

[turtlemama77]

After my experience last time with pitocin, it will take a dire emergency before I will allow myself to be induced ever again.

That said, it's hard to know what I would do. I'd definitely get a second opinion and do some mega research about pros and cons of my choices before I made a decision.

[Miss Juice]

I hope she's not going crazy over the results of one pap done during pregnancy. Pap smears are not diagnostic of cancer, and pregnancy does cause the results to be unreliable. I had an abnormal pap during my first pregnancy - I don't remember the actual diagnosis but it meant abnormal increase in the number of cells, which my midwife told me was generally caused by pregnancy. We did another pap after the baby was born and it was fine.

However, if they've done follow-up testing, and I don't know what would be considered the next step when pregnant, then I would really have to consider the options. As Maria mentioned, if it came down to a choice between a living and healthy mom and baby, induced or even C-section at 38 weeks, and a risk to the health of either of them, I'd probably go with the intervention. And I am really really really anti-intervention. I would never allow an induction in the absence of a medical emergency. But emergencies call for steps we wouldn't take otherwise.

I really hope she's OK - I think further testing and opinions are in order either way.

[Gray's Mommy]

I too would get a second opinion, even a third. It's a hard decision, it would depend on a lot of things. The type of cancer, how far along I was in my pregnancy, etc.


:yeah:

[midwestmom]

I don't think we really have enough info to make any kind of decision. Abnormal paps are graded, so just saying it is abnormal doesn't tell me much. I would not harm my baby to save my life, but I wouldn't deny an intervention that would save us both. My babies need a mama.

I guess my point is that I try not to judge other people's situations without all of the facts.

[sewaneecook]

I guess my point is that I try not to judge other people's situations without all of the facts.

I've learned that sometimes interventions are absolutely necessary. Until I've experienced a situation, I can't say for certain what I would do. If the cancer was confirmed by other docs and it was an aggressive sort, I'd say that the risk of an induction is worth it. However, if the cancer is something that can wait a little while for tx, then definitely wait. I knew a woman who had a re-occurrence of breast cancer in her 7th month. The docs let the baby cook as long as possible without the risk of losing the mom's life too and then did a c-sec. With her history, it was the right thing for her to do. No matter what your friend's sister decides, she needs to have the support of her friends and family (even if you aren't 100% behind her, be there for her!).

[Heather_in_LasVega]

I would be very hesitant to put much weight in a single pap to determine cancer. As one who is at increased risk for gynocological cancers due to a genetic condition I have had my share of test run. I throw abnormal paps, always have. Years ago I had one come back bad enough (don't remember the grade) that my GYN did a colposcopy and not one but 3 biopsys! (ouch!).

She was very concerned by what she saw and prepared me for the worst, but when the results came back, they were completly normal! We just did paps every 3 months to make sure it stayed that way.

I did a quick check and they can do a colposcopy while pregnant, they can even do the biopsy (though there is a slight increase of miscarriage).

Before considering induction or a c-section, I would personally want confirmation of the diagnosis!

Personally I am not doing paps during pregnancy - as I explained to my MW, even if it came back bad I wouldn't treat it until after the pregnancy, so what is the point of adding stress and worry.

[CalebsMama05]

I guess what bothered me is that they hadn't even gotten the results of her biopsy yet and they are making all these plans of inducing at 33-34 wks.

it bothers me b/cuz I was premature and its defined who I am and made me uncomfortable with myself. I hate parts of myself that wouldn't be like they are had i not been born early. that said after a bit of time has passed (and another read through of my original post) what i was appalled about was the fact that they weren't even sure it was cancer and were planning an induction that might not be necessary. not the fact that she would. obviously every woman will have a different reaction. after having Caleb though I would refuse an induction unless my baby would die without it. and I would need 2 or more opinions even then. JMHO.

[~pi]

Oh, Jami, your reaction makes a lot more sense, then.

FWIW, I've seen it happen a lot at the cancer clinic where I do my research: when issuing a diagnosis, the physician will often describe for the patient the worst-case common scenario (i.e. induction). That way the person gets exposed to the idea, they have a couple of weeks to do their own research, talk to their family, think of questions, make plans for second opinions, etc.

I'm sure if the biopsy comes back with good news, they will no longer be recommending an induction and she will just remember this as a scary few weeks with a happy ending.

[sewaneecook]

Ok, it does make a lot more sense with a broader picture of things. Hopefully the right decision will be made once they find out the results of the biopsy. It could be a situation of prepare for the worst yet hope for the best.

I've even heard of cervical cancer being removed while PG! Is this an option?

[JoyofBirth]

I had a pretty bad pap last year. And let me tell you, the POSSIBILITY is very scary, especially when you already have a baby. I have always said I would never do things, but it's so different when it's hypothetical. It turned out okay for me and it may turn out okay for her. As far as planning the induction when it's necessity is unknown, (I'm kinda like this) she may need to do it to help herself come to terms with it. Easier to convince yourself of the worst then be happily surprised than the other way around. I wouldn't induce at 33-34 weeks unless absolutley necessary, just because lung developement is questionable at that point. I'd try to wait till 35-36 weeks if possible. I hope everything turns out okay for this mama.

[vanilla]

my little sister has cervical cancer...it started as an abnormal pap and now (5-6 years later) it's definitely cancer. I can understand why they might want to induce in her case, after 4 years of aggressive treatment her cervix is very compromised. However, in the beginning stages, as far as what I understand, cervical cancer is not one to spread very readily at all. If it does, it is after years of dealing with it. So it's a sad thing for the women who deal with it, but I'm unsure of why they would want to induce? Perhaps to start treatment?