SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCY AND TERM DELIVERY AFTER RADICAL SURGERY FOR COLON CANCER: A CASE REPORT.
This case report describes an adult colon-cancer survivor who, after left hemicolectomy and approximately three years and five months of disease-free follow-up, had an uncomplicated pregnancy and term cesarean delivery of a healthy neonate.
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This case report describes an adult colon-cancer survivor who, after left hemicolectomy and approximately three years and five months of disease-free follow-up, had an uncomplicated pregnancy and term cesarean delivery of a healthy neonate.
Research significance
The reported evidence shows reproductive feasibility in one carefully selected adult survivor; it supports the hypothesis that pregnancy may be possible after curative colon-cancer surgery and confirmed disease-free follow-up with multidisciplinary care, but it does not establish pregnancy safety, recurrence risk, or a therapeutic intervention.
Source abstract
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, but pregnancy following curative resection for CRC is rarely reported. Concerns about cancer recurrence, hormonal influences, and obstetrical risks often lead to hesitation in counseling young cancer survivors who desire pregnancy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 40-year-old woman who presented with obstructive colon cancer at age 37 while 7 weeks pregnant with triplets. Due to the patient's critical condition, left hemicolectomy was performed on July 10, 2022, followed by vacuum aspiration of the uterine cavity on July 20, 2022, after partial stabilization. She later underwent ostomy reversal. After approximately three years and five months of disease‑free follow‑up, she planned a subsequent pregnancy with oncologist approval. The pregnancy was uneventful, and at 40 weeks of gestation, a healthy male neonate (3570 g, 50 cm, Apgar scores 8/9) was delivered by cesarean section due to breech presentation. No obstetric or oncologic complications occurred during pregnancy or the postpartum period. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that pregnancy after curative resection for colon cancer can be safe and successful in carefully selected patients with confirmed disease‑free status, even after a complex prior reproductive and surgical history. Individualized counseling and multidisciplinary management are essential.