Prenatal Testing May Reveal Cancer In Women

BOSTON (CBS)– Prenatal testing has become widely available for pregnant women at risk for having babies with chromosome problems such as Down Syndrome. Now new research finds the tests may also reveal possible cancers in pregnant mothers. A prenatal blood test came back abnormal when Marin Mejia was pregnant with her son Owen. The non-invasive prenatal test picks up DNA from the mother and the baby. Further testing showed the baby was healthy. But Marin wasn’t out of the woods. “The doctor said, ‘So there’s still that abnormal result from the test we need to look into,’” she says. Marin was 39 and having bleeding she blamed on hemorrhoids. Tests later showed she had anal cancer. A new study from Tufts Medical Center shows these widely used prenatal tests can detect cancers in pregnant women. Researchers looked at eight women with abnormal results. Dr. Diana Bianchi serves on an advisory panel for the Illumina, a company that makes one non-invasive prenatal test. She is also the study’s lead author. “If there is cancer,” says Dr. Bianchi, “the tumor is shedding DNA into the mother’s blood as well and that is what is accounting for this imbalance.” Marin’s advanced cancer spread to her lymph nodes and lungs. Doctors delivered Owen at 32 weeks so she could start chemotherapy and radiation. “I am thankful for every minute I get to spend with [my kids],” says Marin, tearfully. “I just, I refuse to believe that there is going to be ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Dr. Diana Bianchi Dr. Mallika Marshall Illumina Marin Mejia prenatal testing Tufts Medical Center Source Type: news