Pregnancy: The unborn child will not be affected by radiotherapy to the upper body.

43 participants aged between 15 and 46 whose mothers had been exposed to radiotherapy during pregnancy took part in the study.  The participants were monitored at predefined ages in childhood and then every 5 years in adulthood. The researchers gave them tests to measure intelligence, attention and memory. They also collected questionnaires from the parents to assess the children's executive and psychosocial functions. These tests were supplemented by medical examinations. The results of the study show that 77% of the participants (33 out of the 43 selected) did not have any neurocognitive, psychosocial or physical problems.

While further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these results, this study is already encouraging for women faced with the need for radiotherapy during pregnancy. As pointed out in an article from the University of Texas Medical School, certain standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can harm the foetus, leading some women to terminate their pregnancy. Studies such as the one carried out by UZ Leuven showing the harmlessness of radiotherapy on the upper part of the body would enable women with cancers in this supra-abdominopelvic area to no longer fear for the health of their child and to continue their pregnancy with the necessary treatment.