Abstract
Background:
Pregnancy and postpartum associated cancers (PAC) are becoming more common as women delay childbearing, yet they remain poorly recognised within cancer and maternity care. Women frequently experience delays in diagnosis, fragmented care and limited access to tailored information and support. Despite the complexity of these diagnoses, there are few national resources or coordinated approaches to improve awareness, care pathways and patient outcomes.
Aim:
To present findings and lessons from Australia's national Pregnancy and Postpartum Associated Cancers Project, highlighting opportunities to improve awareness, multidisciplinary care and health system responses through meaningful patient partnership.
Methods:
The project combined evidence review, national stakeholder engagement and co-design with women diagnosed during pregnancy or within 2 years postpartum, alongside clinicians, researchers and advocacy organisations. The presentation will describe how lived experience informed the identification of priority gaps and the development of practical recommendations and resources.
Results:
The project identified consistent challenges relating to delayed diagnosis, communication across maternity and oncology services, psychosocial support, navigation of complex treatment decisions and inequitable access to information. Co-design demonstrated the value of partnering with patients to develop resources and recommendations that are clinically relevant, practical and responsive to the needs of women and families.
Conclusion:
Pregnancy and postpartum associated cancers require greater recognition across oncology. Embedding patient partnership within research, education and service design can improve awareness, support earlier diagnosis and strengthen coordinated multidisciplinary care. This presentation will outline practical recommendations that can be translated into clinical practice, research and policy to improve outcomes for women diagnosed during pregnancy and the postpartum period.