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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
09:36
Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats
Published on: October 17, 2010
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer
1Department of Surgery, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Irish Medical Journal
|May 7, 2002
Summary
Diagnosing breast cancer during pregnancy is challenging, often presenting at advanced stages. Early surgical intervention and chemotherapy are recommended, even during pregnancy, for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is rare, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
- PABC diagnosis often occurs at advanced stages due to delayed recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review outcomes of breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment modalities in PABC patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of twelve premenopausal women with PABC diagnosed between 1985 and 1999.
- Analysis of diagnosis timing (trimester), staging, treatment (chemotherapy, surgery), and survival.
Main Results:
- Most patients (9/12) had lymph node involvement; 2/12 had metastatic disease at diagnosis.
- Five patients died, with a median survival of 31 months.
- Three fetal deaths occurred; two were associated with primary chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy is difficult and typically presents at advanced stages.
- Surgery is safe during pregnancy, and adjuvant chemotherapy should not be delayed post-delivery.
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