Baby Born Twice After Mother’s Rare Pregnancy Cancer Operation
Surgeons Perform rare Procedure, Allowing Mother With Cancer to Give Birth
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OXFORD, England (AP) — In a rare and complex procedure, surgeons in Oxford, England, temporarily removed a mother’s uterus to operate on ovarian cancer, allowing her to later give birth to a healthy baby boy. The BBC first reported the story.
Diagnosis During Pregnancy
Lucy, a 32-year-old teacher from near Ringing Common, discovered she had ovarian cancer during her 12th week of pregnancy. Doctors at John Radcliffe Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals, determined that immediate action was necessary.
A Delicate Operation
In October 2024, when Lucy was 20 weeks pregnant, a team of 15 doctors performed a five-hour operation. Due to the advanced stage of the pregnancy, a standard laparoscopy was not possible. Instead, surgeons carefully lifted the uterus out of Lucy’s abdomen to access and remove the cancerous cells from her ovaries, which were located behind the uterus.
Two members of the medical team held the uterus throughout the procedure, ensuring the baby remained safe. The uterus was wrapped in sterile,warm saline compresses,replaced every 20 minutes,to mimic the habitat inside the mother’s body and maintain a stable temperature.
Dr. Hooman Soleymanmani Majd described the procedure as “complex and tough,” emphasizing the need to maintain the connection between the uterus,the uterine artery,the left fallopian tube,and the cervix to ensure continuous blood and oxygen supply to the fetus.
A Second “Birth”
After the triumphant removal of the cancer cells, the uterus was carefully placed back inside Lucy’s abdomen. Weeks later, near the end of January 2025, Lucy gave birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing 6.3 pounds, at 37 weeks. Oxford University Hospitals reported the birth was especially poignant for the family,as Lucy’s husband,Adam,had received a kidney transplant from a friend in November 2022.
Gratitude and Expertise
“The dedication and expertise of our multidisciplinary team ensured a positive result for Lucy and her baby,” the surgeon said. Lucy expressed immense gratitude for the care she received. “Each doctor and nurse to whom we talked about was adorable, encouraging and competent and gave us the assurance we needed. I did not doubt a single second that we would not be very well treated,” she told the BBC.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer during pregnancy, Lucy underwent a groundbreaking surgery to temporarily remove her womb, keeping her unborn baby safe. Against all odds, she gave birth at 37 weeks. pic.twitter.com/zcnLCjS2gV
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) april 22, 2025
Groundbreaking Surgery: How Doctors in Oxford Enabled a Mother with Cancer to Give Birth
Q: What happened to Lucy,and what’s teh core of this unusual story?
A: Lucy,a 32-year-old teacher,faced a life-altering situation. During her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In a remarkable feat of medical science, surgeons at john Radcliffe Hospital (part of Oxford University Hospitals) in Oxford, England, performed a rare procedure: they temporarily removed her uterus to treat the cancer, allowing her to later give birth to a healthy baby boy.The BBC was the first to report this story.
Q: When was Lucy diagnosed, and what were the initial challenges?
A: Lucy discovered she had ovarian cancer in her 12th week of pregnancy. This diagnosis necessitated immediate action,creating a challenging situation for both mother and baby.
Q: Describe the surgical procedure itself.
A: In October 2024, when Lucy was 20 weeks pregnant, a 15-doctor team undertook a five-hour operation. Because of the pregnancy’s advanced stage, a standard laparoscopy wasn’t possible. Instead, surgeons carefully lifted Lucy’s uterus out of her abdomen to access and remove the cancerous cells from her ovaries, which were located behind the uterus. Importantly, two medical team members held the uterus throughout the procedure, ensuring the baby’s safety.The uterus was wrapped in warm, sterile saline compresses, replaced every 20 minutes, to replicate the surroundings inside the mother’s body and maintain a stable temperature. The procedure was described as “complex and tough” by Dr. hooman Soleymanmani Majd, who emphasized the need to maintain the connection between the uterus, the uterine artery, the left fallopian tube, and the cervix to ensure continuous blood and oxygen supply to the fetus.
Q: What happened after the cancer cells were removed?
A: Following the triumphant removal of the cancerous cells, the uterus was carefully put back inside Lucy’s abdomen.
Q: What was the outcome of the pregnancy?
A: Near the end of January 2025, weeks after the surgery, Lucy gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 37 weeks. He weighed 6.3 pounds. The Oxford University hospitals reported that the birth was especially poignant because Lucy’s husband, Adam, had received a kidney transplant from a friend in November 2022.
Q: What do the medical professionals say about the success of the surgery?
A: The surgeon emphasized the dedication and expertise of the multidisciplinary team, which ensured a positive outcome for Lucy and her baby.
Q: How did Lucy feel about the care she received?
A: Lucy expressed immense gratitude for the care she received. She said, “Each doctor and nurse to whom we talked about was adorable, encouraging, and competent and gave us the assurance we needed. I did not doubt a single second that we would not be very well treated,” she told the BBC.
Q: What was the public reaction to this story?
A: The story garnered significant attention,including a post from Good Morning Britain on Twitter:
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer during pregnancy,Lucy underwent a groundbreaking surgery to temporarily remove her womb,keeping her unborn baby safe. Against all odds, she gave birth at 37 weeks. pic.twitter.com/zcnLCjS2gV
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) april 22, 2025