"I'm pregnant and I have breast cancer"
2007
Breast Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy
Commentary
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): Michael J Naughton, Matthew Ellis
Primary Institution: Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine
Conclusion
Breast cancer treatment during pregnancy can be complex, but surgery and chemotherapy are generally considered safe after the first trimester.
Supporting Evidence
- 1 in 3000 pregnancies is complicated by breast cancer.
- Surgery and chemotherapy are generally safe after the first trimester.
- Delaying treatment may diminish the probability of cancer survival for women diagnosed early in pregnancy.
- Chemotherapy during the second and third trimester has a reported major congenital malformation rate of 3%.
Takeaway
If a woman has breast cancer while pregnant, doctors can still treat her safely after the first few months, but they have to be careful to protect the baby.
Limitations
The existing data on breast cancer treatment during pregnancy is incomplete and evolving.
Participant Demographics
The publication discusses women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy, particularly those diagnosed early.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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