During her second pregnancy, Dr. Naseem Khorram’s regular prenatal blood test unexpectedly turned up concealed malignancy, which resulted in a life-saving discovery.
Prenatal testing has the ability to identify moms’ undetected malignancies, according to recent research, underscoring the need for improved awareness and procedures.
When regular prenatal blood tests revealed something unexpected, Dr. Naseem Khorram’s second pregnancy, which was intended to be an exciting time in her life, took an unexpected turn.
Khorram, a 36-year-old nephrologist in good health, had no cause for concern. The test, which was intended to check for chromosomal abnormalities in her unborn child, produced unexpected results for her personal health rather than her fetus.
After the test showed “atypical” results in her DNA, her obstetrician suggested a full-body MRI to look into the matter more.
Her diagnosis of stage II Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare illness of the lymphatic system, as she approached the end of her pregnancy, set off an emotional rollercoaster.
Khorram started chemotherapy right away and finished it a few weeks before giving birth. She is thankful to be spending the holidays with her two young girls now that she is cancer-free. As she considers the challenging months, she remarks, “We’re so lucky to both be here.”
She wasn’t alone in her experience. The critical role that prenatal screenings could play in early cancer detection was highlighted by a recent study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and revealed that over 50% of women with aberrant prenatal DNA test results were diagnosed with undiagnosed malignancies.
To make sure that odd test findings are not missed, experts are advocating for more transparent procedures and increased awareness.
Khorram’s tale serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to push for more diagnostic testing because early diagnosis can actually save lives
