Multidisciplinary Team Saves 32-Year-Old Woman's Life While Pregnant with Cancer

At 32 years old, Christina, a former teacher from Westchester, was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her second child. After being told by other institutions that they could not treat her cancer without first terminating her pregnancy, Christina sought out the multidisciplinary team of experts at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center. Led by breast surgical oncologist Mary L. Gemignani, MD, MPH, and medical oncologist Elizabeth Comen, MD, the team developed a care plan that allowed Christina to receive treatment while maintaining her pregnancy. The multidisciplinary approach involved close collaboration across disciplines, including maternal-fetal medicine, to ensure the health and well-being of both Christina and her baby.

Key Takeaways:

• Christina, a 32-year-old pregnant woman, was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated by a multidisciplinary team of experts at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center.
• The team led by Dr. Gemignani and Dr. Comen developed a care plan that allowed Christina to receive treatment while maintaining her pregnancy.
• The diagnosis occurred in the first trimester, when chemotherapy is generally avoided, but the team worked to develop a plan that allowed for surgery to be performed and chemotherapy to be safely initiated in the second trimester.
• Cancer in pregnancy is not common, but there has been an increase in diagnoses among younger women over the last two decades.
• The median age for breast cancer is 62, but there has been an increase in diagnoses among women aged 20-29 and 30-39.
• NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center has a strong multidisciplinary approach to cancer care, with doctors from different services speaking regularly and in real time.
• The health of Christina's pregnancy required regular monitoring, and Dr. Brandt's team from Maternal-Fetal Medicine Services provided evidence-based guidance to support treatment.
• Christina had a successful birth at 39 weeks and is finishing her treatment with a positive prognosis.

Statistics:

• 32: Christina's age at diagnosis
• 20-29: The age group with an increase in breast cancer diagnoses over the last two decades
• 30-39: The age group with an increase in breast cancer diagnoses over the last two decades
• 62: The median age for breast cancer diagnoses
• 118: The number of comprehensive academic medical centers ranked by Vizient Inc.
• 4: The number of years NYU Langone has ranked No. 1 in comprehensive academic medical centers

Sources:

• NYU Langone Health (news release) - October 29
• NYU Langone Health (about page) - no date provided
• Vizient Inc. (rankings) - 2022
• U.S. News & World Report (rankings) - 2022