Cervical cancer in pregnancy: an assault on family and fertility

This case study offers an instructive example of how one gynaecological oncology and midwifery team provided comprehensive care to a 26-year-old woman diagnosed with cervical cancer at 27 weeks gestation into her second pregnancy. The paper highlights the lack of prospective randomized trials and clinical guidelines in this area and argues that each case is unique. The wishes of the woman and her family are of paramount importance when decision making about the potential impact of cancer treatment on their unborn baby. As this case study demonstrates many issues complicate both the cancer and the obstetric management in this situation. Following treatment for cervical cancer and the safe delivery of a baby life will never be the same again for the woman with cervical cancer. She must confront the reality of her disease, care for a premature infant, accept the impact upon her future fertility and live with the risk of future disease recurrence. This paper also explores the role of the nurse consultant in g...