Breast cancer during pregnancy is a very rare case. It doesn’t happen often but, when a mommy-to-be is diagnosed with breast cancer it can be distressing. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in new moms, while breastfeeding, or within the first year of delivery. When an expectant is diagnosed with the Breast Cancer, there are chances of finding it out at the later stage.
The reasons for it are:
The early symptoms of Breast Cancer are generally mistaken for the normal changes that happen when pregnant. This delayed diagnosis is one of the major problems with breast cancer in pregnancy.
BREAST CANCER TREATMENT DURING PREGNANCY
The treatment of Breast Cancer during pregnancy depends on things such as the size of the tumor, where the tumor is, if the cancer has spread and if it has, how far, how far along the pregnancy is and what the woman prefers, etc.
The challenge faced by doctors while treating a pregnant woman with breast cancer is protecting the growing fetus from the side effects of treatment.
Surgery is considered to be the safest treatment for breast cancer in pregnancy. Surgery includes
Mastectomy is used more often in pregnant women with breast cancer because women who have breast-conserving surgery need radiation therapy afterward, which is harmful for the fetus. Other treatments for breast cancer, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and radiation are also harmful for the fetus.
Chemotherapy is considered safe for the fetus when given later in pregnancy. It isn’t safe for the early pregnancy treatment. If a woman has breast cancer in early pregnancy and demands chemotherapy immediately, she may be asked to rethink about her pregnancy by the doctor, in such cases. Ending the pregnancy is only recommended for aggressive cancers that may need immediate treatment.
The expectant and her family must understand all the risks and benefits of options available to them before making their treatment decisions.
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Treatment for breast cancer in pregnancy will consider the welfare of both mother and baby. Chemotherapy is generally avoided in the first trimester, and radiation is avoided until delivery. Surgery is the primary treatment option as it has the least side effects on the baby. However, the treatment options will depend on the stage of cancer and how quickly it is progressing as well.
Pregnancy as such does not increase the risk of any cancer. However, if a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer when pregnant, there is a higher risk that the cancer will progress quickly. The hormonal changes caused by pregnancy can accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells. The risk is higher for women who are older during their first pregnancy.
Yes, breast cancer during pregnancy is very rare. However, among cancers diagnosed during pregnancy, breast cancer is the most common type. The risk of breast cancer during pregnancy is higher for women over 40. It is not the pregnancy that causes cancer, but a combination of various other factors.
The most common type of breast cancer found during pregnancy is invasive ductal carcinoma. It is the most common type of breast cancer diagnosed, even outside of pregnancy. These start as tumours in the breast and slowly spread throughout the body.