Cancer and Pregnancy

Learn more about pregnancy care for patients with cancer.

Overview

Learning you have cancer as you are growing your family can feel overwhelming. It is important to know that people with cancer or a history of cancer can go on to have successful pregnancies and healthy babies.

Cancer almost never spreads from the parent to the baby. Further, with proper diagnosis and treatment from an interprofessional team, your pregnancy is not likely to affect the outcome of your cancer.

Our maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists are specialized obstetricians who provide pregnancy care for patients with cancer and other health conditions. Our MFM specialists will  work closely with your oncologists to support you throughout your pregnancy.

We also see patients with a history of cancer. We can recommend additional tests based your specific treatments and medical history.

Our care

Learn more about the specialized care provided at Mount Sinai Hospital for Medical Disorders of Pregnancy.

This content is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. It does not replace the need for consultation with a health-care professional. Please speak with your health-care professional for questions about your health.

Your pregnancy care

You will have prenatal appointments with your MFM specialist at the Medical Disorders of Pregnancy Clinic.

It is important to us that you actively participate in decision-making about your care. Our MFM specialists will help you understand the risks and benefits of your treatment choices so that you can make the best possible decisions for you and your baby.

We try to help you balance the pressures of a difficult health condition with the expectations and hopes of a healthy pregnancy.

We work closely with your Oncology team to adjust your treatment and birth planning as needed. We often work with the team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, but also provide care or guidance to patents receiving treatment at other centres.

Treatment

Diagnostic tests and cancer treatments are chosen carefully to balance the best treatment for your condition with minimizing the risks to your baby.

During this period, we will arrange for more frequent monitoring of the health of you and your baby.

Your care may include any of the following:

Blood tests to assess your health or your response to treatment
Frequent prenatal visits to monitor for complications
Chemotherapy in the second or third trimester with therapies known to have less risk in pregnancy
Medication, such as immunological drugs or steroids
Surgery in specific cases and timed to minimize risk
Radiation in specific cases
Growth and well-being ultrasounds
Heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) for you or your baby
Imaging such as X-rays, computed tomography (CTs), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) to assess cancer staging or response to treatment

Labour and delivery

We continue to provide care during labour, birth and for six weeks postpartum.

Labour and delivery care may include some of the following:

Planning the timing of your delivery to balance the risks and benefits of your specific care needs
Designing a delivery care plan with our clinical nurse specialist
Scheduling an induction of labour or Caesarean section if needed
Arranging for further testing during your postpartum stay, as needed
Meeting with our Obstetrical Anesthesia team
Monitoring your health throughout labour
Meeting with our Neonatology team to monitor the health of your newborn

Many patients diagnosed with breast cancer wonder if they will be able to breast/chestfeed. We work with our neonatologists and lactation consultants to provide infant feeding support based on your individual circumstances.