Facts, Views & Vision
in ObGyn

Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

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Breast cancer in pregnancy: a literature review

Sarah Deckers, Frédéric Amant*

Leuven Cancer Institute, Gynecological Oncology, UZ Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Correspondence at: Frédéric Amant, M.D., Ph.D. Tel.: +32.16.344634, e-mail: frederic.amant@uz.kuleuven.be

*Frédéric Amant is clinical researcher for the Research Foundation – Flanders (F.W.O.).

Keywords:

Pregnancy, breast, cancer, management, neonatal.


Published online: Oct 02 2009

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. The incidence of breast cancer in pregnancy (BCP) is expected to increase since women tend to postpone childbearing until later in life and since the incidence of breast cancer increases with age.

The management of this co-incidence is a clinical and ethical multidisciplinary challenge for all involved medical care workers since two lives are at risk. Breast cancer treatment is possible during pregnancy. Still, little prospective research data are available on this condition. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge about the safety of diagnostic imaging, staging methods and treatment options of BCP. We also discuss the prognosis, neonatal outcome and recommendations concerning prenatal care.