30/08/2025
NOT EVERY PREGNANCY IS A BABY
You see, not all 'I'm pregnant' really means you are. In medicine, there is what we call gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). It's a spectrum of dieases that arise from what should be pregnancy. Some are benign, not cancers but also not babies. And some, are dangerous cancers.
it is important to confirm your pregnancy in the hospital using Abdominal USS. I mean reliable hospitals. Why? Because when gestational trophoblastic disease happens, your pregnancy test will be positive. But you are not carrying a baby. Worst case scenario, you may be carrying cancer.
This is not one of the hardest cancers to treat. But that is only true if you present quite early. It could advance, like other cancers to involve your lungs and other body parts. So like we always say, early presentation save lives.
GTDs, a lot of times, will surface as miscarriages. Sometimes in the early stages, sometimes a little late. Evacuation too may be easy or hard, depending on when you come. But one mistake happens a lot, especially when you patronise unauthorized personnel or less standard hospitals and it can cost your life. Not testing the product from that miscarriage. Or sometimes, you not checking back on your results.
If you miscarry a pregnancy, go to the hospital, even if you think it's over. You will be checked to confirm it's a pregnancy you lose and not a GTD that has remnants in you.
If you have an evacuation of pregnancy, the product of the pregnancy will be tested. We are not magicians, we check to confirm, for your safety. Make sure you retrieve the result and see your Dr without skipping your appointment.
Next time a miscarriage happens, even if the product was already flushed without knowledge, go to the hospital. If GTD is lurking, an ultrasound could suggest it. And your life could be saved. and more tests will back the suggestion.
Government needs to upgrade our hospitals especially in small towns to meet this basic standard. Even some general hospitals in major cities need this upgrade too. Women should not die from 'cancerous pregnancies' just because basic investigations now look like luxury.
Dr Khadijat Mustapha
Founder Cancer Gist with Poectormum
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