Treatment of Breast Cancer in Pregnancy

Behind the Cancer Headlines®

November 30, 2005

“The treatment of breast cancer when the patient is pregnant does not increase the risk of congenital anomalies,” assures Dr. Guillermo López, director of the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital of the University of Navarra, Spain.

The University has had wide experience in this field, in fact, one of the widest in Europe. It is estimated that some 13% of breast cancers appear in women of fertile age. Moreover, the survival rate for this illness is high, which is why young women treated for breast cancer can entertain the possibility of a pregnancy.

The specialist at the University Hospital insisted that, “the treatment of breast cancer in pregnant patients may be undertaken and with very good results. Experience shows that pregnancy does not worsen the prognosis of breast cancer. Moreover, surgical treatment and with chemotherapy for this illness does not increases the risk of congenital anomalies, always taking into account the gestational age and an application of the most suitable treatment for each case.”

The treatment should be individualized and the experience of gynecologists and oncologists should be involved with the participation of the woman patient in the making of decisions. “For the patient to be exposed to a treatment during pregnancy is a difficult experience, but it should be known that treatment of breast cancer is possible.”

SOURCE:

University Hospital of the University of Navarra, Spain (http://www.unav.es/cun)