Biography
Biography: Zaid Al-Wahab
Abstract
Cancer is an important cause of death in women of childbearing age. Cancer incidence in pregnancy has increased in the last 50 years due to higher rates of cancer and delay in childbearing. There are more than 800,000 women receive cancer diagnosis every year and 4 million women who will become pregnant in the US each year. The most common cancers in pregnancy are Breast and Cervical cancers. Symptoms of cancer can be confounded with pregnancy symptoms. The diagnosis and treatment require a balance of risks and benefits for both maternal and fetal wellbeing. This requires a multidisciplinary approach of different specialties. Management of cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy depend on the gestational age, stage of disease and the specific type of treatment. As advancements in cancer treatments continue to improve survival, increased focus has been given to improvement in quality of life for survivor. Onco-fertility is a fast growing field that focuses on fertility preservation for the patients after cancer treatment. Options for women to have children after cancer have increased significantly in recent years.