title: Priorities and uncertainties of administering chemotherapy in a pregnant woman with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The absence of treatment standards for the use of chemotherapy in pregnancy is due, in part, to the fact that cancer in the gravid female is relatively uncommon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case (of a pregnant woman with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer) is presented to explore this area of medical uncertainty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Managed by a multi-disciplinary team, successful prolongation of gestation was achieved with an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A perspective of the ongoing conflict between prolonging the mother's life and preserving fetal development is highlighted. Although not life-saving, administration of chemotherapy in this woman was life-sparing.
authors.affiliation: Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Abraham S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kanate
authors.forename: Miklos L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Auber
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Higa