In Pregnancy
Leukemia is rarely associated with pregnancy, affecting only about 1 in 10,000 pregnant women. How it is handled depends primarily on the type of leukemia. Acute leukemias normally require prompt, aggressive treatment, despite significant risks of pregnancy loss and birth defects, especially if chemotherapy is given during the developmentally sensitive first trimester.
It is possible, although extremely rare, for leukemia to spread from mother to the child. This is called vertical transmission.
Read more about this topic: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Famous quotes containing the word pregnancy:
“Her girlfriends asked that innocent,
“What? What appeals to you?”
when her pregnancy cravings appeared.
Her gaze merely fell
on her husband.”
—Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)
“If pregnancy were a book they would cut the last two chapters.”
—Nora Ephron (20th century)