Tumors and Pregnancy 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. National Cancer Institute Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Start Here Cancer during Pregnancy American Society of Clinical Oncology General Information about Breast Cancer and Pregnancy National Cancer Institute General Information about Gestational Trophoblastic Disease National Cancer Institute Array Choriocarcinoma Gestational trophoblastic disease Hydatidiform mole 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 Specifics Detecting and Treating Thyroid Nodules and Cancer Before, During, and After Pregnancy Hormone Health Network Molar Pregnancy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Pheochromocytoma during Pregnancy National Cancer Institute Related Issues Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer National Cancer Institute Do We Know What Causes Gestational Trophoblastic Disease? American Cancer Society Other Considerations for Pregnancy and Breast Cancer National Cancer Institute Genetics Genetics Home Reference: recurrent hydatidiform mole National Library of Medicine Treatments and Therapies Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treatment National Cancer Institute Treatment of Breast Cancer during Pregnancy American Cancer Society Treatment Options for Hodgkin Lymphoma during Pregnancy National Cancer Institute Diagnosis and Tests hCG Test (Pregnancy Test) American Association for Clinical Chemistry How Is Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Stages of Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors and Neoplasia National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Tumors and Pregnancy
