Are birth defect rates in children born to cancer survivors who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiation higher than that of the normal public?
Rates of birth defects in the general population are 2-3%. Studies reported to date strongly suggest that children born to cancer survivors are no more likely than others in the general population to have birth defects. A few types of cancer (perhaps 5% to 10% of all cancers) involve a mutated gene that can be passed from parent to child. If you have a strong family history of cancer you may want to consult a geneticist or genetic counselor to see if your children would have higher lifetime cancer risks than usual.
Related Questions
- Are the rates of birth defects higher in children born to cancer survivors who have had treatments like chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy than in the general public?
- Are birth defect rates in children born to cancer survivors who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiation higher than that of the normal public?
- Do children born to cancer survivors who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiation have higher rates of birth defects?
