Dia, a molar pregnancy is a pretty weird thing (and very unusual) and it is
not unlike cancer in that it's a bunch of undifferentiated cells growing
wildly.  To the best of my knowledge there is fertilization and
implantation, but never the development of a normal embryo or fetus.
Instead the cells stay in that undifferentiated state and grow.  I am sure
there are people on this list who can explain this a whole lot better!  It's
not my area of expertise, for sure.

This is strictly anecdotal, but my sister experienced a molar pregnancy
several years ago and had to have careful monitoring through blood tests for
six months after her D&C.  I think the blood test was a routine pg test -
serum HCGs - and she was told that if the HCGs continued positive even
though she was not pregnant, it could indicate the beginning of cancerous
growth.  My sister's blood tests were always OK so we never found out what
would've happened next.  I wonder if your friend was unlucky enough to NOT
have the OK tests.  A molar pregnancy is a pretty weird thing and it is not
unlike cancer in that it's a bunch of undifferentiated cells growing wildly.
With the chemo complicating things, I don't know what the future will hold
for your friend, but if it would comfort her to know, my sister did have
another baby several years later.

Mary Renard in Vienna, VA where a thunderstorm is rolling in at 8 o'clock in
the morning so why am I on the computer?????
=====================================================
Mary Riley Renard, RN, BSN, IBCLC
CERP/Recertification Coordinator
Int'l Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
P O Box 2348
Falls Church  VA  22042-0348  USA
Tele 703-560-7330
Fax 703-560-7332
Email <[log in to unmask]> or <[log in to unmask]>
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