1st Cancer and Pregnancy Meeting

‘Pregnancy and cancer’: two words that in the minds of many cannot coexist, as one represents the beginning of a life, the other, for many, the possible end. However ‘Cancer and Pregnancy was the title of a meeting held in Milan, April 12, 2012 that brought together physicians and researchers, with a vested interest in this subject, with the aim of offering pregnant patients the same optimum management as non-pregnant patients. President of the meeting, Dr Fedro Peccatori, discusses the highlights and aims of the meeting details of the next meeting.

Dr Amant talks about a follow up study on children whose mothers were treated with chemotherapy during their pregnancy. Talking at the 1st Cancer and Pregnancy Meeting in Milan, Dr Amant addresses preconceived notions about the effects of chemotherapy on the development on the foetus and during the development after birth. The results from this study also address the question whether or not treatment to the mother should be delayed.

Speaking at the 1st Cancer and Pregnancy Meeting in Milan Dr Azim talks about the concerns of women receiving treatment while pregnant. Studies have found that many treatments do not affect the foetus or the mother while pregnant or after birth. In addition, the mother able to breast-feed and the baby develops without any side effects of the treatment while in the womb. Dr Azim also talks about the difficulties that patients encounter during treamtent, such as patients with ER2+, and the difficulties of treatment, both surgical and pharmacutical.

Prof Pavlidis discusses the differnt types of cancer that occur during pregnancy at the 1st Cancer and Pregnancy Meeting in Milan. Cancer during pregnancy occurs in approximately one in every thousand pregnancies, although the number of cases globally is increasing. The tumour is often diagnosed late influencing both the survival of the woman and the foetus.

One of the main concerns of treating a pregnant patient is whether or not the development of the brain of the foetus will be affected, both during and post pregnancy. Dr Fumagalli addresses if treatment solely effects the development of the baby or if environmental factors also play a part.

Silvia Formichetti describes her experience with the discovery of a tumour during pregnancy. In 2009, she was 6 months pregnant and waited until 7 months to deliver. She was operated on immediately thereafter and now undergoes normal follow up. The interview was conducted in Italian.

Dr Kesic discusses the treatment of pregnant patients at smaller institutes and the difficulties that surround it. She notes that many pregnancies are unnecessarily terminated due to a lack of knowledge on standards of treatment for such cases. The 'Cancer and Pregnancy Task Force', which organised the 1st Cancer and Pregnancy Meeting in Milan, addresses these issues.