Tale of grit: Lung cancer survivor turns mom, delivers baby in 31st week

BENGALURU: Monica (name changed), mother to a three-month-old boy, has gone through a lot - from battling and surviving lung cancer to carrying a pregnancy that medical experts had little hope would be successful and delivering a pre-term baby in the 31st week. But all is well that ends well.
Originally from Mysuru, Monica, 29, was diagnosed with an atypical neuroendocrine tumour of the lung in 2016 at the age of 26.After an operation and one year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Apollo Hospitals, BG Road, she got married to her boyfriend from her PU days in 2019.
When her pregnancy was confirmed, health experts didn't have much hope. "Natural pregnancy in a cancer survivor who has undergone chem otherapy and radiotherapy is unique and fortunate. Respiratory compromise during pregnancy or delivery was anticipated in the patient as she had lung resection. Early pregnancy loss or miscarriage was expected. The biggest risk was for the mother. While there are only a few instances of a successful pregnancy after atypical neuroendocrine tumour of the lung, doctors decided to not give up in Monica's case," said Dr Usha BR, consultant obstretician, Apollo Hospitals.
During pregnancy, Monica developed reduced fluid l evels around the fetus and had premature labour pains in the seventh month. The baby was born in the 31st week and weighed 1.3kg.
"The child was initially kept on continuous positive airway pressure for seven days through a machine that provides respiratory support to neonates. Subsequently, the baby received mother's milk and Kangaroo mother care, a special method of care for low-weight babies, in which the newborn is kept in close skin-to-skin contact of the mother," explained Dr Prashanth S Urs, HoD and senior consultant neonatologist.
The child weighed 2kg when he was discharged at 36 weeks. "We salute the mother's spirit as she was very enthusiastic about her involvement in the baby's care and was successful in breastfeeding," Dr Urs said.