Klin Farmakol Farm. 2014;28(2):59-61

Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or lactation

Petra Kubánková, Jitka Abrahámová

Onkologická klinika Thomayerovy nemocnice, Praha

The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy is uncommon with an incidence of 0.7 in every 1,000 pregnant women. It is the second

most frequent cancer during pregnancy. Data on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy are based on retrospective

studies and case reports. All women with this cancer should be referred to an institution with expertise in dealing with such cases. Patients

should be managed by a multidisciplinary team which, in addition to an oncology team, includes an obstetrician and a neonatologist.

Breast cancer associated with pregnancy is divided into breast cancer during pregnancy and breast cancer diagnosed during the first

year after delivery. Women with breast cancer diagnosed after delivery are treated as other women, only breast-feeding must be

stopped before initiation of the treatment. The treatment of women with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy depends especially

on gestational age of the fetus. Surgery can be safely carried out at any time during pregnancy; chemotherapy can be administered

during the second and third trimesters. Hormonal therapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy are contraindicated during pregnancy.

Keywords: breast cancer, pregnancy, breast-feeding, chemotherapy, surgery

Published: July 1, 2014  Show citation