The repercussions of overturning Roe v. Wade - and the failure of the Supreme Court to provide any guidance on exceptions related to the life and health of the mother - are potentially catastrophic for a subset of women who face a life-threating diagnosis of pregnancy associated cancers (PAC).
In their perspective article, publishing in JAMA Oncology on August 11, 2022, Katherine Van Loon, MD, and Jordyn Silverstein, MD, from UC San Francisco discuss the unique challenges PAC poses for women and their care teams, who must balance both safety of the mother and that of the fetus or embryo.
Approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnancies are affected by a concurrent cancer diagnosis. The most common cancers include breast cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, leukemia, colorectal cancer and melanoma. Termination of the pregnancy occurs in 9% to 28% of cases, with many occurring in the first trimester.
For women with a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, many factors influence the decision-making to terminate a pregnancy, including:
1. The mother's diagnosis, stage, and prognosis
Prognosis is closely tied to the cancer type, tumor biology, and stage at diagnosis. Some studies suggest that pregnancy itself is not associated with worse cancer survival compared with nonpregnant women. However, in some cancers, the hormones of pregnancy may accelerate disease progression.
2. The gestational age of the embryo or fetus
The gestational age of the embryo or fetus is a critical factor in the context of evolving state laws governing access to pregnancy termination at different time points.
3. The recommended therapeutic plan
Oncologists should discuss ideal treatment plans and how modifications for pregnancy are likely to influence prognosis for the mother and risks to the fetus. Limited safety data for most anticancer therapies on the fetus are based on case reports or other small studies.
4. The mother's personal values and beliefs
Complex medical decisions are often influenced by religious and/or cultural beliefs, as well as by individual, family, and community factors and by trust (or lack thereof) in the health care team.
