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Summary

Tumors during pregnancy are rare, but they can happen. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. The most common cancers in pregnancy are breast cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma. Cancer itself rarely harms the baby, and some cancer treatments are safe during pregnancy. You and your health care provider will work together to find the best treatment. Your options will depend on how far along the pregnancy is, as well as the type, size, and stage of your cancer.

Another type of tumor that women can get is called a gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). It happens when a fertilized egg doesn't become a fetus. GTD is not always easy to find. It is usually benign, but some types can be malignant. The most common type of GTD is a molar pregnancy. In its early stages, it may look like a normal pregnancy. You should see your health care provider if you have vaginal bleeding (not menstrual bleeding).

Treatment depends on the type of tumor, whether it has spread to other places, and your overall health.

Start Here

• Cancer during Pregnancy (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• General Information about Breast Cancer Treatment during Pregnancy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Cervical Cancer Treatment during Pregnancy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Drugs Approved for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (National Cancer Institute)
• Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treatment (National Cancer Institute)
• Treating Breast Cancer during Pregnancy (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma during Pregnancy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure and Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Molar Pregnancy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Pheochromocytoma during Pregnancy (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cancer and Pregnancy (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hydatidiform Mole (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Gestational breast cancer: distinctive molecular and clinico-epidemiological features.
• Article: Associations of gestational thyrotropin levels with disease progression among pregnant women...
• Article: Pregnancies complicated with functioning adrenal adenomas causing severe obstetric outcomes: a...
• Tumors and Pregnancy -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• Choosing a Cancer Doctor (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• How to Find Find an Ob-Gyn (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Choriocarcinoma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Gestational trophoblastic disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hydatidiform mole (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish