Breast cancer during pregnancy

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009 Nov;147(1):9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.06.030. Epub 2009 Sep 20.

Abstract

Breast cancer in pregnancy is an uncommon situation but poses dilemmas for patients and their physicians. There is a paucity of prospective studies regarding diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy. Women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy have similar disease characteristics to age-matched controls. Current evidence suggests that diagnosis may be carried out with limitations regarding staging. Surgical treatment may be performed as for non-pregnant women. Radiotherapy and endocrine or antibody treatment should be postponed until after delivery. Chemotherapy is allowed after the first trimester. Physicians should be aggressive in the workup of breast symptoms in the pregnant population to expedite diagnosis and allow multidisciplinary treatment without delay.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Drug Therapy
  • Female
  • General Surgery
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / therapy*
  • Radiotherapy
  • Risk Factors