[Carcinoma of the breast and pregnancy (author's transl)]

The prognosis of carcinoma of the breast which was detected during pregnancy or during the breast feeding is discussed. Personal cases are described and the literature is reviewed. The prognosis of carcinoma of the breast following complete treatment is investigated when the prognosis may be influenced by a pregnancy. In contra-distinction to the older view the prognosis is only worsened when the axillary lymph nodes show cancer. Without spread to the axillary lymph nodes there is no difference in the survival rates. In cases with complete treatment for carcinoma of the breast the pregnancy appeared to have a favorable influence on the prognosis. In our own few cases axillary lymph nodes in pregnant women worsened the prognosis more than in non-pregnant women.