[Mrs. Don-o]

Ir a pregnant woman has cancer of the uterus or cervix, any of her treatment options --- surgery, chemo, or radiation --- might kill the baby. But here's the way a pro-life doctor would manage that: you make your best estimate of how long you could delay the cancer treatment (or opt for very conservative cancer treatment --- in consultation with the woman, of course, and with other doctors) and then you go for earliest possible delivery of the baby followed by hysterectomy or whatever the mother's cancer treatment option is.

If it was too soon and the preemie baby dies, you at least know that you tried to save both. And that's just what most pregnant mothers want: they want the doctor to make a good-faith effort to save them both, understanding that the outcome is never certain.

[fleagle]

More excellent information. Thank you. A high school friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was pregnant with her first child. Her doctor did as you said, opted for the most conservative cancer treatment, all the while keeping the health and lives of the mother and unborn child foremost in all treatments and options.

Aborting her child to save her life was never considered...by anyone. Very thankfully my friend's cancer is now in remission and her healthy and happy son is ten years old this year.