Pregnant women treated safely for breast cancer

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A local hospital is leading the way on treating pregnant women with breast cancer, as well as keeping their unborn babies safe.

"One evening I was just lying in bed and I guess doing a self-breast exam. I felt something," said Kiffany Smith.

The startling discovery then led doctors to diagnose the 31 year old with breast cancer.

"Luckily they weren't large tumors but they were large enough and it was pretty aggressive. Unfortunately, it had spread to my lymph nodes under my arm," Smith said.

Before her diagnosis, Smith and her husband were trying for a second child. They immediately put that plan on hold and Smith started treatment.

Two surgeries, including a mastectomy, later, she found out she was pregnant the whole time.

"I talked to my surgical oncologist first, and she was like it's okay. We treat women that are pregnant all the time," Smith said.

For two decades MD Anderson Cancer Center pioneered much of the research on breast cancer treatment during pregnancy.

"We have the largest group of people who have been treated and seen in one institution," oncologist and researcher Jennifer Litton said.

With this research, new mothers don't have to choose their life or their baby's life. Litton says the research includes tracking the babies' health later in life.

"We will continue to follow the children and long-term outcomes," Litton said.

Thanks to their efforts, care for pregnant breast cancer patients is the same as those who aren't pregnant.

Smith is now halfway through her chemotherapy. After the baby is born, she says her treatment will pick up with more chemo and possibly radiation.

"I thought it was impossible, you know being able to have a baby and undergo cancer treatment, but my main message is that it is possible," Smith said.

While treatment is tailored for each breast cancer patient, as a general rule, chemotherapy is not given during the first trimester. Radiation treatments are also reserved until after delivery.