women s health issues
Cancer During Pregnancy
Cervical cancer
Pregnancy does not appear to worsen the prognosis of Cervical Cancer . If pregnant women have an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test, doctors examine the cervix with a binocular magnifying lens ( Colposcopy ). Colposcopy does not harm the fetus or affect the pregnancy. Doctors usually consult an expert when doing the colposcopy to help them determine whether they should take a sample of any abnormal tissue to be examined under a microscope ( If cervical cancer is in a very early stage, treatment is usually postponed until after delivery. If more advanced cervical cancer is detected early in pregnancy, it is usually treated immediately as needed. If it is diagnosed late in pregnancy, doctors explain the risk of postponing treatment so that women can decide whether to postpone treatment until after the fetus is mature enough to be delivered. However, if cancer is advanced, cesarean delivery is done, followed by hysterectomy. 