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Breast cancer and pregnancy

  • Laura Knabben EMAIL logo and Michel D. Mueller
Published/Copyright: August 29, 2017
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Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation
From the journal Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation Volume 32 Issue 1

Abstract

Background

In the past decades the incidence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) increased. Possible explanations are the trend to postpone childbearing and the general increase in the incidence of breast cancer.

Materials and methods

A sytematic review of the literature was performed with the aim to report on incidence, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of breast cancer during pregnancy. We also cover the issue of pregnancy following a diagnosis of breast cancer including fertility preservation and prognosis.

Results

Ultrasound is the imaging method of choice in pregnancy, but mammography can also be performed as the fetal irradiation dose is low. To avoid a delay in diagnosis every sonographic mass in pregnant women which does not clearly correspond to a cyst needs further investigation by biopsy. Treatment should follow as close as possible the guidelines for non-pregnant patients. Administration of chemotherapy is possible after the first trimester. There is a large body of evidence for the use of anthracyclines. In contrast radiotherapy, trastuzumab and antihormonal treatment by tamoxifen are contraindicated during pregnancy. Pregnancy does not seem to influence prognosis. Most adverse obstetric outcomes are related to preterm delivery, which should therefore, whenever possible, be avoided. Young patients with breast cancer and incomplete family planning should be referred for counseling about fertility preservation options before the initiation of adjuvant treatment. A pregnancy following breast cancer does not have a negative impact on prognosis.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary management of women with breast cancer in pregnancy is mandatory and data should be collected to allow further improvement in management.

Keywords: breast cancer; fertility; obstetrical outcome; pregnancy; pregnancy-associated breast cancer

Author Statement

  1. Research funding: Authors state no funding involved.

  2. Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  3. Informed consent: Informed consent is not applicable.

  4. Ethical approval: The conducted research is not related to either human or animals use.

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Received: 2017-5-2
Accepted: 2017-7-17
Published Online: 2017-8-29

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. Breast cancer: an update in the management
  3. Review Article
  4. Breast cancer and pregnancy
  5. Opinion Paper
  6. Preventing overdiagnosis in mammography screening – a public health perspective
  7. Short Communication
  8. Preoperative breast MRI-examination for all patients with histologically proven breast cancer? A concept for a prospective multicenter trial
https://doi.org/10.1515/hmbci-2017-0026
Keywords for this article
breast cancer; fertility; obstetrical outcome; pregnancy; pregnancy-associated breast cancer

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. Breast cancer: an update in the management
  3. Review Article
  4. Breast cancer and pregnancy
  5. Opinion Paper
  6. Preventing overdiagnosis in mammography screening – a public health perspective
  7. Short Communication
  8. Preoperative breast MRI-examination for all patients with histologically proven breast cancer? A concept for a prospective multicenter trial
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