title: Cancer in pregnancy: disentangling treatment modalities.
abstract: Pregnancy-associated cancer constitutes an uncommon and difficult to manage clinical situation. It is defined as the cancer diagnosed from the first day of childbearing to 1 year post partum. Coexistence of cancer with pregnancy adds complexity to treatment recommendations, as both the mother and the fetus may be affected. The optimal therapeutic management of pregnant women with cancer diagnosis should take into account, apart from medical factors, a host of other parameters (ethical, psychological, religious, legal, etc). Unfortunately, this situation becomes more complex as more women delay childbearing, and consequently the incidence of cancer during pregnancy is constantly increasing. This manuscript summarises the general principles in managing pregnant patients with cancer and gives detailed instructions in the management of pregnant patients with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, lung cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma and cervical cancer. Of note, management of pregnant women with cancer diagnosis should be performed in specialised centres with experience and all cases should be discussed in multidisciplinary meetings composed of multiple specialists (medical oncologists, obstetricians, surgeons, radiologists and paediatricians).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics , Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dimitrakakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marinopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsigginou
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics , Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Meletios-Athanassios
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
keywords: cancer; lymphoma; malignancy; melanoma; pregnancy