%0 Journal Article %A Mohammad Yaghoobi %A Gideon Koren %A Irena Nulman %T Challenges to diagnosing colorectal cancer during pregnancy %D 2009 %J Canadian Family Physician %P 881-885 %V 55 %N 9 %X QUESTION My patient is 13 weeks pregnant and has experienced rectal bleeding and vomiting. Should I send her for a colonoscopy to rule out colorectal malignancies or should I wait until after delivery? ANSWER The data on colorectal cancer in pregnancy are scarce; however, as the presenting features of colorectal cancer overlap with those of pregnancy itself, there is a risk of development of advanced disease, with poorer prognosis at diagnosis. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that this patient, who is in her second trimester, undergo at least a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is presumed safe during pregnancy, with or without a liver ultrasound and carcinoembryonic antigen detection based on pretest probability according to her other risk factors. %U https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/55/9/881.full.pdf