THE IMPACT OF BREAST CANCER TREATMENT ON FETAL BLOOD CIRCULATION: EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUMORS IN BABIES

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of maternal breast cancer treatments, specifically chemotherapy and radiation, on fetal blood circulation and the subsequent development of tumors in offspring. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating clinical data from pregnant women undergoing breast cancer treatment and laboratory experiments using animal models. The results demonstrated significant disruptions in fetal circulatory dynamics during and after maternal chemotherapy and radiation exposure, with marked reductions in blood flow during treatment and partial recovery thereafter. Additionally, elevated levels of tumor-associated biomarkers were observed in both maternal and fetal blood samples, suggesting a biological pathway linking treatment-induced circulatory alterations to tumor development.Experimental studies on animals demonstrated that chemotherapy and radiation treatment combined to create cardiovascular malformations along with organ abnormalities which later resulted in childhood cancers such as leukaemia and solid tumors in offsprings.  The degree of foetal circulatory disturbances directly correlated with the dosage of chemotherapeutic medicines as indicated through statistical analysis which supported dose-dependent consequences.  The findings match past research to explain how maternal cancer medications affect embryonic blood flow which leads to infant cancer development.  The research study highlights the need for both extended health checks for children born to cancer patients and better clinical protocols and monitoring methods for expecting cancer patients.  The research creates fundamental groundwork for following molecular studies examining linkages between maternal cancer treatments and higher risks of child cancer while establishing medical practice and community health standards.