Melanoma is the most prevalent cancer during pregnancy

BALTIMORE —

Being pregnant is hard enough, but imagine being diagnosed with cancer at the same time.

Melanoma is the most prevalent cancer during pregnancy, representing 31% of all gestational cancers, and that number is increasing.

Mercy Medical Center surgical oncologist Dr. Vadim Gushchin said pregnancy usually happens at a younger age, as does melanoma. Gushchin said pregnancy does not speed up melanoma and does not worsen the prognosis.

Surgery is the most common treatment for melanoma patients, and Gushchin said eight out of 10 patients will be fine if treated with surgery alone.

"It's a good idea to check with the dermatologist about pigmented lesions, stuff like that. Melanoma may accentuate pigmented lesions. The pigmentation that happens is a normal pregnancy sign, as you mi