Cancer Care During Pregnancy

Expecting a baby is a very exciting time in a woman’s life. However, when a situation or complication develops that can affect the health of you or your baby, it may also be a time of uncertainty and fear.

For Pregnant Women Who Find Out They Have Cancer

As women delay starting or completing their families until older maternal ages, the occurrence of cancer during pregnancy is not uncommon. For example, 7% to 15% of breast cancer cases occur in pregnant women, making it the most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy.

For Pregnant Women Who Are Cancer Survivors

Treatments for childhood or adolescent cancers have improved the survival for many women to and beyond the reproductive years. In addition, newer treatments have been gentler on the preservation of fertility. For these reasons, women considering pregnancy not uncommonly have a prior history of cancer treatment. Patients are concerned about the effects of prior treatment on their offspring and are also concerned about the effects of a pregnancy on their risk of cancer recurrence.

A Team Approach

For patients who receive a cancer diagnosis while pregnant, it is important to know all of your options and get expert help. It is possible to safely receive treatment for cancer during pregnancy, although the type and timing of treatment may be affected by the pregnancy. Our multidisciplinary team of experts is ready to create a treatment plan for your cancer while also protecting your baby.

At Cooper, we are staffed with medical oncologists and maternal fetal medicine physicians who have experience in caring for patients with cancer during pregnancy, both in direct care, or as consultants to local oncologists and obstetricians.