"I didn't really fit into any boxes": understanding the experiences of women affected by cancer in pregnancy and up to one-year postpartum-a mixed-method systematic review.

purposeLittle is known about women's experiences of cancer during pregnancy and up to one-year postpartum. As the incidence of gestational cancer rises parallel to increasing rates of early onset cancers there is an imperative need to understand their experiences. The aim of this research is to understand women's experiences of gestational cancer during pregnancy and up to one-year postpartum.

methodsThis systematic integrative review followed the JBI methodology for mixed method systematic reviews (MMSR) which integrates empirical data from qualitative and quantitative primary studies. The search strategy included electronic databases, APA PsycINFO, CINHAL, Medline, Scopus, and the Web of Science Core Collection. The review has been reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive methodological quality assessment was undertaken using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

resultsThirteen studies were included, reporting on the experiences of 266 women. The findings represented the women's insight on the psychological impact of their gestational cancer, the impact on women's identity as a mother and a patient, and women's experiences of complex care.

conclusionsGestational cancer reflects an emerging focus of clinical practice and an opportunity for much needed new research to explore woman-centered care exploring supportive care needs and models of maternity care. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Women's experiences indicate that services are under-resourced to address the holistic and integrated supportive care needs of women affected by cancer across both maternity and cancer care teams.