Cancer in pregnancy

A diagnosis of cancer in pregnancy has an incidence of 0.1%. This is expected to rise with increasing number of women delaying childbearing into later life. Common malignancies are breast, cervix, leukaemia, lymphoma, melanoma, thyroid, ovary and colon. Diagnosis and treatment is a complex balance between maternal wellbeing and fetal wellbeing. An individualised treatment plan is crucial, with input from a multitude of professionals. The advantages and disadvantages of continuing with the pregnancy should be weighed against the physical and psychological wellbeing of both the parents and the child, along with the timing of maternal treatment and timing of delivery.