Cancer and pregnancy: an overview for obstetricians and gynecologists

Abstract

A relatively rare occurrence, pregnancy-associated cancer affects approximately 1 in 1000 pregnancies. Optimizing treatment of the cancer and minimizing harm to the fetus are often dependent on the extent of disease, treatment options required, and the impact on the pregnancy as well as the gestational age of pregnancy. When malignancy is diagnosed, the obstetrician-gynecologist plays a key role in the diagnosis, initial evaluation, and coordination of patient care. Furthermore, the obstetrician-gynecologist may be asked to assist in fertility planning for young women with a new diagnosis of cancer and may be responsible for addressing questions about family-planning needs and the safety of future pregnancy. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to provide the obstetrician-gynecologist with a relevant overview of the current literature regarding concurrent pregnancy and cancer diagnoses, management options, including maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as the future needs of young women diagnosed with cancer who desire fertility preservation.

Keywords: cancer in pregnancy; chemotherapy; fertility preservation; radiation therapy.