Shahrin Ahmed: Pregnancy complications are more likely for young cervical cancer and leukemia survivors

Shahrin Ahmed, Medical Specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society, shared on X:

“Pregnancy complications are more likely for young cervical cancer and leukemia survivors – Cervical cancer and leukemia survivors were less likely to give birth.

The risk of serious obstetric complications was higher for those who did, as determined by a retrospective cohort study. Prematurity, obstructed labor, postpartum hemorrhage, and retained placenta were increased by 50% to 97% among survivors of leukemia..

The number of 5-year survivors who were diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15 to 39 in England. The risk of complications increased by 31% to 174% among those with cervical cancer compared to the general population. From fetus malpresentation and labor obstruction to antepartum hemorrhage and preterm birth.

Compiling information from the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study and the Hospital Episode Statistics cohorts for 25 years. In England, the study found that 21,437 babies were born among the 13,886 breast cancer survivors. The overall population was compared to the rate, which was 32% lower than expected, and the observed-to-expected ratio was 0.68.

More than 50% lower birth rates than the general population were experienced by survivors of genitourinary cancers and breast cancer. Leukemia survivors experienced a 47% lower birth rate than the general population. Preterm delivery, obstructed labor, postpartum hemorrhage, and retained placenta were more prevalent in those who had survived leukemia. The findings suggest that guidelines for managing pregnancies in survivors of cervical cancer could be developed.

The guidelines complement those already in place for managing cervical cancer and offer a reference point to compare the obstetric risks of future cancer treatments. Cervical cancer survivors require a high-risk pregnancy care plan due to the increased risks of adverse obstetric outcomes. An obstetric multidisciplinary team is required to provide close monitoring and assessment. ”

Source: Shahrin Ahmed/X