Principles of treatment of pregnancy-associated malignant diseases: A literature review

Abstract

Relevance: Cancer during pregnancy is uncommon and found in 1/1000 pregnant women. An increasing number of women worldwide plan child bearing at 30 years when the risk of malignant diseases increases. During pregnancy, cancers inherent with the reproductive period in women are more likely. These cancers include breast cancer and cervix cancer. This article reviews the principles of treating pregnant women with these cancers.

The study aimed to systematize relevant literature reviews for the past decade to efficiently choose diagnostic and treatment tactics for pregnant women with breast cancer and cervix cancer without harming the fetus and gravid.
Results: The value and the adequacy of different diagnostic methods of research that have no threat to gravid and fetus and are recommended for pregnant patients were established. Considering a patient’s condition, gestation, and stage of the disease, the best treatment options for those cancer types were identified. Possibilities were studied on preserving patients’ fertility after treatment of these cancers.
Conclusion: Malignant tumors of the reproductive system alternating with pregnancy are statistically rare. However, medical oncologists have to solve the problem of the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant patients. The choice of the diagnostic methods and the type of treatment must be individual. Having appropriate examinations and the staging done, Multidisciplinary Tumor Board approves the patient management plan. Practitioners face the problematic issue of choosing optimal diagnostic and treatment measures, and this situation requires further investigations and methodological developments in pregnancy management complicated with oncological disease.