Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy: a qualitative study of women's psychosocial experiences during treatment and survivorship.

PURPOSE: Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy presents unique challenges, requiring women to navigate treatment alongside pregnancy and early parenthood. While clinical aspects are well studied, the psychosocial impact on survivorship remains underexplored. This study examined the lived experiences of women diagnosed during pregnancy, focusing on emotional, psychological and practical challenges from diagnosis through survivorship.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted using interview data from 20 women in the UK diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. Participants were recruited via Mummy's Star, a charity supporting individuals affected by cancer in pregnancy. Interviews were thematically analysed using template analysis, focusing on decision-making, psychosocial burden and support needs.

RESULTS

Six inter-related themes were identified: (1) managing cancer with uncertainty, women reported distress due to delayed investigations and treatment adjustments during pregnancy; (2) ethical decision-making, emotionally charged choices around treatment, birth and feeding were made with limited or conflicting information; (3) balancing cancer and its treatment with pregnancy and family life, early parenting was disrupted; (4) work disruption and financial strain, treatment-related costs and lost income caused hardship; (5) emotional impact of diagnosis and treatment, including lasting psychological effects; and (6) Coping and support, guilt, fear of recurrence and unmet support needs persisted post-treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Women diagnosed with cancer in pregnancy face profound, long-term emotional and financial challenges. Fragmented care and inadequate support exacerbate these difficulties. Integrated multidisciplinary care is essential to improving survivorship.