The rate of pregnancy-associated cancer is increasing and is only partially explained by the rise in older mothers suggests new research published today in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
A large Australian study looked at 781,907 women who gave birth in New South Wales (NSW) between 1994 and 2008 which corresponds to 1,309,501 maternities. Women with pregnancy-associated cancer, where the initial diagnosis of cancer is made during pregnancy or within 12 months of delivery, are compared to women without cancer…
John Thorp, BJOG Deputy-Editor-in-Chief added:
“Pregnancy is a time when a woman comes into contact with healthcare workers more frequently than normal and this may play a part in certain cancers being picked up more. The most common cancer was melanoma of the skin which it must be noted is more common in Australia than other countries.”