Cancer in pregnancy — The obstetrical management
Lone Storgaard, Iben Katinka Greiber, Berit Woetmann Pedersen, Birgitte Bruun Nielsen, Mona Aarenstrup Karlsen- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- General Medicine
Abstract
Cancer in pregnancy, defined as a cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, is a rare but severe condition presenting both clinical and ethical challenges. During the last two decades a paradigm shift has occurred towards recommending similar staging and treatment regimens of pregnant and non‐pregnant cancer patients. This strategy is a result of an increasing number of reassuring reports on chemotherapy treatment in pregnancy after the first trimester. The management of cancer in pregnancy should be managed in a multidisciplinary team where staging, oncological treatment, social and mental care, timing of delivery, and follow‐up of the infant should be planned. Due to the rarity, centralization is recommended to allow experience accumulation. Furthermore, national and international advisory boards are supportive when there is a lack of expertise.