{"id":5522,"date":"2011-02-27T10:50:59","date_gmt":"2011-02-27T09:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T12:11:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T11:11:28","slug":"melanome-and-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma-and-2\/melanome-and-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Melanoma and pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide im26-care-guide\">\n<p class=\"im26-care-intro\">Prompt diagnosis, shared decisions and planning after treatment.<\/p>\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#care-diagnosi\">Do not delay assessment of a changing lesion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#care-decisioni\">Staging, treatment and the baby\u2019s care<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#care-progetto\">Pregnancy after melanoma, contraception and breastfeeding<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"care-diagnosi\">\n<h2>Do not delay assessment of a changing lesion<\/h2>\n<p>Pregnancy can alter skin pigmentation and appearance, but a growing, bleeding or suspiciously changing spot should not automatically be attributed to hormones. Dermatological examination and dermoscopy are possible; an indicated skin biopsy can be performed during pregnancy with appropriate precautions. Always tell the clinician about pregnancy and current medicines.<\/p>\n<p>Historical statements suggesting that one third of the most serious melanomas occur in pregnant women are not a usable estimate for an individual patient. Risk and prognosis primarily depend on tumour characteristics and stage. Pregnancy is not a reason to postpone diagnosis of a suspicious lesion until after birth.<\/p>\n<p>Localised melanoma can be treated surgically during pregnancy. Dermatology, surgery, oncology and obstetrics teams should agree a plan considering gestational age and maternal and fetal needs. Anaesthesia, the setting of the procedure and monitoring are selected for the circumstances rather than imposed through one rule for everybody.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im26-dg-gallery im26-care-images\">\n<figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/pregnantwomen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/pregnantwomen.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image retained from the site archive.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Image retained from the site archive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"im26-dg-sources\"><small>Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/types\/common\/melanoma\/during-pregnancy\">AAD \u2014 Melanoma during pregnancy<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng14\/chapter\/Recommendations\">NICE NG14 \u2014 melanoma, recommendations<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"care-decisioni\">\n<h2>Staging, treatment and the baby\u2019s care<\/h2>\n<p>When investigations of disease extent are needed, the team chooses timing and methods suitable for pregnancy. Sentinel node biopsy requires discussion of its informational benefit, possible delay and procedural risks; NICE explicitly includes discussing postponement until after pregnancy. Tracers and dyes are not selected by patients themselves. MRI may have a role, but use of contrast also needs individual assessment.<\/p>\n<p>Advanced disease involves particularly complex multidisciplinary decisions. Immunotherapies and targeted medicines cannot be described as safe in pregnancy simply because they are effective outside pregnancy. The product information, alternatives and possible timing must be reviewed alongside the woman\u2019s preferences. Generic online advice cannot replace this discussion.<\/p>\n<p>Transmission of melanoma through the placenta is rare. Examination of the placenta may be appropriate in advanced maternal disease; placental involvement calls for specialist neonatal and paediatric <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/what-to-do-after-melanoma\/\">follow-up<\/a>. Historical percentages from small case collections must not become personal risk estimates or an automatic X-ray schedule for every newborn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"im26-dg-sources\"><small>Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng14\/chapter\/Recommendations\">NICE NG14 \u2014 melanoma, recommendations<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/types\/common\/melanoma\/during-pregnancy\">AAD \u2014 Melanoma during pregnancy<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/skin\/hp\/melanoma-treatment-pdq\">NCI \u2014 Melanoma Treatment (PDQ)<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"care-progetto\">\n<h2>Pregnancy after melanoma, contraception and breastfeeding<\/h2>\n<p>A past melanoma does not automatically rule out a future pregnancy. Before planning conception, discuss stage, recurrence risk, current or completed treatment and the required interval after the last medicine. There is no single waiting period for everyone. If treatment could affect fertility, discuss preservation before starting whenever possible.<\/p>\n<p>Contraception and breastfeeding advice must reflect the actual medicine and clinical history. A removed melanoma is not a permanent ban on breastfeeding, but breastfeeding may be contraindicated during certain therapies and for a period afterwards. Do not discontinue treatment without contacting the centre. Bring reproductive wishes, concerns and any need for psychological support to the consultation so that decisions are genuinely shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"im26-dg-sources\"><small>Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/types\/common\/melanoma\/during-pregnancy\">AAD \u2014 Melanoma during pregnancy<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/skin\/hp\/melanoma-treatment-pdq\">NCI \u2014 Melanoma Treatment (PDQ)<\/a>.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue the pathway<\/h2>\n<div class=\"im26-resource-grid\">\n<article>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/what-to-do-after-melanoma\/\">After melanoma: follow-up and everyday life<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>A personalised plan for surveillance, symptoms, recovery and support after diagnosis.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma-and-2\/melanoma-and-children\/\">Melanoma in children and adolescents<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Rarity, signs requiring assessment and specialist paediatric care.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/what-to-do-after-melanoma\/rights-of-the-cancer-patient\/\">Cancer patient rights in Italy: work, support and the right to be forgotten<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>Italian protections, eligibility and contacts: legal information reviewed on 17 October 2026.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"im26-dg-sources\"><small>Editorial review and source consultation: 17 October 2026. Educational information, not individual healthcare or benefits advice. Source checking does not certify a new specialist clinical validation.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prompt diagnosis, shared decisions and planning after treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":5547,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5522","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>melanoma and pregnancy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Melanoma and pregnancy. About 1\/3 of the most serious cases of melanoma of women are diagnosed in women during their childbearing years, scientists believed that pregnant melanoma could spread more rapidly in pregnant women, but there is no definite evidence to suggest that pregnancy following a diagnosis of melanoma changes prognosis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma-and-2\/melanome-and-pregnancy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"melanoma and pregnancy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Melanoma and pregnancy. About 1\/3 of the most serious cases of melanoma of women are diagnosed in women during their childbearing years, scientists believed that pregnant melanoma could spread more rapidly in pregnant women, but there is no definite evidence to suggest that pregnancy following a diagnosis of melanoma changes prognosis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma-and-2\/melanome-and-pregnancy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Il Melanoma\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-17T11:11:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/pregnantwomen.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/en\\\/melanoma-and-2\\\/melanome-and-pregnancy\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/en\\\/melanoma-and-2\\\/melanome-and-pregnancy\\\/\",\"name\":\"melanoma and pregnancy\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/en\\\/melanoma-and-2\\\/melanome-and-pregnancy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/en\\\/melanoma-and-2\\\/melanome-and-pregnancy\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ilmelanoma.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2011\\\/02\\\/pregnantwomen.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-02-27T09:50:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-17T11:11:28+00:00\",\"description\":\"Melanoma and pregnancy. 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