NEOPLASMS IN PREGNANCY: INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TUMOR PROGRESSION AND THE MATERNAL-FETAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the most prevalent neoplasms during pregnancy and their repercussions on women's health and fetal development, considering the challenges related to diagnosis and treatment during this period. This is an integrative literature review with a descriptive, exploratory, and qualitative approach, conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases, including publications from 2016 to May 2026, available in full text and in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Twelve studies were analyzed, with breast cancer standing out as the most frequent neoplasm. The main findings revealed difficulties in early diagnosis related to the physiological changes of pregnancy, as well as limitations regarding treatment selection and timing. Among the repercussions for the mother and fetus, prematurity, the need for neonatal intensive care, fetal growth restriction, pregnancy termination, and, less frequently, fetal death were identified, in addition to emotional impacts on patients. It is concluded that cancer during pregnancy requires early diagnosis, individualized therapeutic planning, and multidisciplinary follow-up to reduce complications and promote better outcomes for both mother and fetus.