Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Who should be in the room: obstetrics and oncology together | CION Cancer Clinics
Cancer surgery during pregnancy should be planned by a cancer specialist and a pregnancy specialist together, not one after the other. At a minimum that means a surgical oncologist and an obstetrician, with an anaesthetist and often a newborn doctor. This page explains who does what, how a joint plan is made, and how you can check that the right people are involved in your care. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Who should plan cancer surgery during pregnancy?
- Who is usually part of the team, and what does each do?
- What happens when the teams plan together?
- What difference does planning together make?
- What do families often assume about the team?
- How can you tell if the right people are involved?
- Common questions about the team for cancer in pregnancy
The short answer
Who should plan cancer surgery during pregnancy?
A cancer specialist and a pregnancy specialist, planning together. At a minimum, that means a surgical oncologist and an obstetrician, with an anaesthetist, and usually a newborn doctor, medical oncologist and radiologist joining the discussion.
Why one doctor is not enough
A cancer surgeon knows how urgent the cancer is and what the operation needs. An obstetrician knows what the pregnancy can tolerate, and how to spot early labour or strain on the baby. On their own, each sees half the picture. When they plan in sequence, one after the other, advice can conflict and you are left to reconcile it. When they plan together, the options you hear have already been weighed from both sides.
Who this matters most for
Joint planning matters for any operation during pregnancy. It matters most when the surgery is on the abdomen or pelvis, close to the womb, when the pregnancy is further along and early delivery is a real possibility, and when further treatment such as chemotherapy may be needed before the baby is born. It also matters if you have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes in pregnancy, that both teams need to account for. For a small operation early in pregnancy, the obstetrician's part may be lighter, but they should still know about it.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you whether surgery is right for you, or when. That is for your own team, with you. It can help you check that the right people are involved and know what to ask them.
If your cancer doctor and your pregnancy doctor have not spoken to each other yet, it is reasonable to ask them to.The team
Who is usually part of the team, and what does each do?
Not every case needs every specialist. These are the people most often involved.
Surgical oncologist
Plans and performs the cancer operation. Explains what the surgery involves, how urgent it is and what may happen if it waits.
Obstetrician
Looks after the pregnancy. Checks the baby before and after surgery and leads any decision about timing of delivery.
Anaesthetist
Chooses anaesthesia and pain relief suited to pregnancy, and keeps your blood pressure and oxygen steady for the baby's sake.
Newborn doctor
A neonatologist, a doctor for newborns, is involved later in pregnancy in case the baby needs to be delivered early.
Medical and radiation oncologists
Advise on treatment before or after surgery, and which of it can safely be given during pregnancy.
Radiologist and pathologist
Choose scans that suit pregnancy and read the tissue results that the whole plan depends on.
Also helpful
- A nurse coordinator
- A counsellor
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistHow it works
What happens when the teams plan together?
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Reports are gathered
Biopsy results, scans and your pregnancy notes are brought together so every specialist is looking at the same information.
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The joint meeting
Often called a tumour board or multidisciplinary meeting. Cancer and pregnancy specialists discuss the options, the timing and the risks for mother and baby.
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A shared plan is written
It sets out what is recommended, when, what monitoring the baby will have, and what happens if labour starts or plans change.
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The plan is explained to you
Ideally with both an oncologist and an obstetrician present, so you can ask questions of both in one conversation. Bring family if you wish.
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The team stays in touch
Around the operation and afterwards, updates pass between both teams, and the plan is revisited as the pregnancy moves on.
Side by side
What difference does planning together make?
Planned separately
Planned together
You carry reports between two doctors
Both teams see the same reports at the same time
Advice may conflict, and you have to choose
Conflicts are worked out before you hear the plan
No agreed step if labour starts after surgery
A written plan covers labour and early delivery
Decisions can take longer
One discussion can settle timing
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Commonly believed
What do families often assume about the team?
"The cancer surgeon will look after the pregnancy too."
A cancer surgeon is not trained to manage a pregnancy. An obstetrician should be involved before, during and after the operation.
"Our family gynaecologist will manage everything."
Your own obstetrician or gynaecologist is valuable and should stay involved. The cancer decisions still need a cancer specialist working alongside them.
"Asking for a joint discussion will upset the doctors."
Planning together is the standard approach for cancer in pregnancy. Asking for it is reasonable, and good teams welcome the question.
"More doctors means more delay."
A joint meeting can feel like an extra step. In practice it often avoids the back-and-forth that slows decisions when each doctor is seen separately.
Checking your care
How can you tell if the right people are involved?
Ask directly. A team working together will be able to name the obstetrician and the cancer surgeon involved, and tell you when they last discussed your case.
Questions to ask your centre
Has my case been discussed by both cancer and pregnancy specialists? Who is my obstetrician for the operation, and will they see me before and after? Is there a labour ward and newborn unit in the same building? If not, what is the plan if I go into labour? Who is my main contact between visits?
If your care is split across two hospitals
This is common, especially for families travelling from districts. It can still work well. Ask for written summaries to be shared between the two teams, carry copies yourself, and make sure each team has the other's phone number. Tell both teams about every change.
Who this approach may not fully reach
In an emergency, such as bleeding or a blocked bowel, surgery may have to happen before a full meeting is possible. The obstetrician should still be called, and the fuller discussion follows afterwards.
Did you know
You are part of the team too. Your wishes about the pregnancy, your beliefs and your family situation are information the specialists need, and a good plan is built around them.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the team for cancer in pregnancy
Do I need both an obstetrician and a cancer surgeon?
Yes. The cancer surgeon plans the operation and the obstetrician looks after the pregnancy and the baby. Each brings knowledge the other does not have. Ideally they discuss your case together, and both see you before surgery, so the plan protects you and the pregnancy at the same time.
What is a tumour board?
A tumour board is a meeting where specialists from different fields discuss a patient's case and agree a plan. For cancer in pregnancy, it should include pregnancy specialists as well as cancer specialists. You do not usually attend, but the decisions are explained to you afterwards.
Can my own gynaecologist be part of the team?
Often, yes. Many families want the doctor who has followed the pregnancy to stay involved. Ask the cancer team whether they can share reports and speak with your gynaecologist directly. What matters is that the pregnancy doctor and cancer doctor are in contact, not which hospital each works in.
Why is a newborn doctor involved before the baby is born?
Later in pregnancy, surgery or its after-effects can sometimes lead to early labour. A newborn doctor, also called a neonatologist, helps plan for that possibility so the baby would get the right care straight away. Earlier in pregnancy, their involvement is usually not needed.
What if the doctors disagree?
Disagreement between specialists is not unusual and is one reason for a joint discussion. Ask them to explain the different views to you together, and what each option means. You can also ask for a second opinion. The aim is a plan you understand, not one decided around you.
Will the obstetrician be in the operating theatre?
That depends on your weeks of pregnancy and the operation. Later in pregnancy, an obstetrician is often present or close by, ready to act if needed. Earlier, they may see you before and after instead. Ask your team what has been arranged for your operation.
Who do I call if something changes at home?
Ask for one named contact before discharge, and clear instructions on which team to call for what. As a rule, bleeding, leaking fluid, less baby movement or tightening goes to the labour ward. Wound problems, fever or pain may go to the surgical team. Save both numbers.
Can family members join the planning discussion?
Usually, yes, when the plan is explained to you. Choose one or two people you trust, and bring a written list of questions. The decisions about your body and your pregnancy are still yours to make, but having someone listen with you helps you remember what was said.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Surgery to treat cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- NHS — Pregnancy
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Cancer information and support
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Cancer surgery during pregnancy: is it possible?When an operation can go ahead with the pregnancyMonitoring the baby around surgeryHow the baby is checked before, during and afterChoosing a surgeon and a centreWhat to look for when choosing where to have surgeryDeciding on cancer surgeryWhat to ask before agreeing to any operation
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