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Updated: May 28, 2026
09:36
Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats
Published on: October 16, 2010
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer
Srividya Viswanathan1, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy
1Division of Medical Oncology, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. bhuvaneswari.ramaswamy@osumc.edu
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 28, 2011
Summary
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is rising as women delay childbirth. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial for managing PABC during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing maternal age at childbirth is linked to a higher incidence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC).
- Timely diagnosis of breast cancer in pregnant women requires a high index of suspicion for suspicious breast lumps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline diagnostic and management strategies for breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy.
- To emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for optimal outcomes in PABC.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical guidelines for PABC management.
- Discussion of treatment modalities including surgery and systemic therapy based on gestational stage.
Main Results:
- Surgical intervention is preferred in the first trimester, allowing systemic therapy in the second.
- Primary chemotherapy or surgery can manage breast cancer diagnosed in later pregnancy stages.
- A coordinated multidisciplinary team is essential for successful management.
Conclusions:
- Early detection and tailored treatment are vital for PABC.
- Multidisciplinary care ensures optimal outcomes for both the mother and the fetus.
- Management strategies must adapt to the trimester of diagnosis and pregnancy stage.
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