Taking the lead on treating cancer in pregnancy

Dr Frédéric Amant from the Leuven Cancer Institute in Belgium is taking the lead on treating cancer in pregnancy. Back in 2004, a pregnant cancer sufferer came to his team seeking to terminate her pregnancy – this made him realize how little was being done for...

How Dr. Lyerly’s breaking pregnancy taboos

Dr. Anne Drapkin Lyerly, an obstetrician/gynecologist, researcher, bioethicist and author, is one of the founders of the Second Wave Initiative. Founded in 2009, the Second Wave Initiative aims to offer scientifically responsible solutions to pregnant women in need of...

The Internet: a help or hindrance to high-risk pregnancies?

A normal pregnancy throws up endless questions. About what’s safe, about what’s advisable to eat or drink, what activities you can do, and what (if any) medicines you can take – and many other things too. So where do women turn? Less than a generation ago, pregnant...

Rare cancers in pregnancy – what should a doctor do?

There’s growing research into the role of the placenta as a “filter,” protecting unborn children from the effects of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. But most of the research out there focuses on more common types of cancer. But what happens when a pregnant...

Reading the small print: drug labeling and pregnancy

When it comes to drug labeling, the small print is vitally important. It tells us what to expect when we take a medicine. It reminds us of who should take it, and how often, and what to do if something goes wrong. And there’s an important regulatory side to it as...