Breast cancer in pregnant patients: A review of the literature

Abstract

Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare occurrence at present; however, in recent years a trend towards delayed childbirth is generating an increase in its incidence. This situation requires a multidisciplinary approach involving obstetricians, oncologists and surgeons. In this review we analyse diagnostic methods, different possible treatments and long-term patient prognosis. We conducted a search for articles published in PubMed, or in abstract form from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, using the search terms: "Breast cancer and pregnancy". Breast cancer occurring during pregnancy requires extra effort to offer patients the best multidisciplinary management. There is no difference in the pathology-based classification, but breast cancer during pregnancy seems to be associated with different patterns of gene expression. Chemotherapy and surgery are generally safe and well-tolerated by patients during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The poorer prognosis could be attributed mainly to a delay in diagnosis and because breast cancer in young patients is a more aggressive disease. Finally, balancing the health of mother and child must be paramount.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Diagnosis; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Treatment.