Cancer in pregnancy

Cancer in pregnancy appears to challenge the clinician more commonly nowadays. Delaying childbearing to a later age has increased the number of women with cancer in pregnancy. The incidence of cancer in pregnancy is estimated to be 1 in 1000. Pregnancy-associated malignancy presents a significant dilemma in management as a result of conflict between maternal therapy and effects of treatment on fetal well-being. Due to lack of large studies there is a need for clinical guidelines for most of these conditions. In this problem-based review, the most common conditions are discussed with respect to background, clinical presentation, difficulties in diagnosis and alternative diagnostic modalities, and management issues considering the mother and fetus.