Overview
Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy refers to any type of cancer that is found while a woman is pregnant. This is a rare but serious situation that affects both the mother and the developing baby. Cancer during pregnancy occurs in roughly 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 pregnancies. The most common types of cancer found during pregnancy include breast cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma (skin cancer), lymphoma, and leukemia. Other cancers such as ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer can also occur. Symptoms depend on the type of cancer involved. A woman might notice a new lump in her breast, unusual bleeding, persistent fatigue beyond what is expected in pregnancy, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, or skin changes. Because many cancer symptoms overlap with normal pregnancy changes — such as tiredness, nausea, or breast changes — diagnosis can sometimes be delayed. Treatment requires a careful balance between effectively treating the mother's cancer and protecting the unborn baby. A team of specialists including oncologists, obstetricians, and neonatologists work together to create a treatment plan. Some chemotherapy drugs can be safely given during the second and third trimesters, while radiation therapy and certain medications are generally avoided until after delivery. Surgery can often be performed safely during pregnancy. The timing of delivery may be adjusted to allow treatment to begin or continue. With proper multidisciplinary care, many women can receive effective cancer treatment while still having a healthy pregnancy outcome.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
New lump in the breast or elsewhereUnusual vaginal bleedingExtreme tiredness beyond normal pregnancy fatigueUnexplained weight lossSwollen lymph nodesPersistent headachesChanges in a mole or skin lesionAbdominal pain or bloating not explained by pregnancyNight sweatsPersistent cough or shortness of breathFever without an obvious causeBone painEasy bruising or unusual bleeding
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
4 eventsSaglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital — NA
Amsterdam UMC — NA
A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza — PHASE4
The Cooper Health System
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy.
1 clinical trialare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Study With a Newly Optical Coherence Tomography Probe for Optimizing Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy
New recruiting trial: Comparison of Transvaginal Paracervical and Transperitoneal Approaches in Lymphadenectomy During v-NOTES Surgery for Patients Diagnosed With Endometrial Cancer
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy
New recruiting trial: Maternal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment During Pregnancy:a Database for Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Outcomes
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What type and stage of cancer do I have, and how does pregnancy affect my treatment options?,Is it safe to receive chemotherapy or other treatments during my current stage of pregnancy?,How will my cancer treatment affect my baby's health and development?,Should we plan to deliver the baby earlier than my due date to allow for more treatment options?,Will I be able to breastfeed during or after treatment?,Are there clinical trials or specialized centers for managing cancer during pregnancy that I should consider?,What emotional and psychological support services are available for me and my family?
Common questions about Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy
What is Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy?
Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy refers to any type of cancer that is found while a woman is pregnant. This is a rare but serious situation that affects both the mother and the developing baby. Cancer during pregnancy occurs in roughly 1 in every 1,000 to 2,000 pregnancies. The most common types of cancer found during pregnancy include breast cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma (skin cancer), lymphoma, and leukemia. Other cancers such as ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer can also occur. Symptoms depend on the type of cancer involved. A woman might notice a new lump in her breast, unusual b
At what age does Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy typically begin?
Typical onset of Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy?
Yes — 1 recruiting clinical trial is currently listed for Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy?
10 specialists and care centers treating Malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.