Breast Cancer and Pregnancy

Care. Cure. Compassion

Breast cancer during pregnancy 

Breast cancer is rare to strike younger women, but the fact remains that it keeps all women at risk during pregnancy. Finding out breast cancer in pregnancy can be very upsetting where you are likely to feel a range of emotions.

01.

Who gets breast cancer? 

Research states that breast cancer is reported in 1 in every 3,000 pregnancies. Most women who are in their 40's, 30’s and even 20’s are able to carry breast cancer along with their pregnancy.

02.

Women – Prone to breast cancer

Some women who are prone to breast cancer during pregnancy may need to think about whether to end the pregnancy.  The doctor will discuss the options and also recommend chemotherapy if they are less than 14 weeks pregnant. 

03.

Is breast cancer dangerous?  

Breast cancer depends on the stage of pregnancy whether it is in the initial stage or advanced. but it will not affect the fetus, except certain treatments.  There is no evidence to show that being pregnant makes a cancer grow rapidly.

04.

Diagnosing the breast cancer

Generally, the young woman's breasts change when they are pregnant, as they become ready for breastfeeding.    The breast tissue becomes denser. Dense breast tissue will have less fat, more breast cells and connective tissue. 

05.

Ultrasound scan  The first test 

The first test is an ultrasound scan which uses the sound waves. You might also have an x-ray of your breast called the mammogram.  This protects your baby as it will shield them from the radiation.

06.

Further other tests  

To find out the development of cancer an ultrasound guided biopsy is recommended to detect the abnormal area. Radiation, chemotherapy, and other drug-related therapies, CT scans and bone scans are avoided because of their associated risks with birth defects.

07.

Breast Cancer Vs Surgery 

Surgeries, either a lumpectomy or mastectomy is the most preferred and common method of treatment for breast cancer in pregnant women.  Research shows that there are common anti sickness medicines such as ondansetron which are safe to take in pregnancy.

08.

Cautions for pregnant women 

Many doctors caution pregnant women to wait several years depending on the type of complication of breast cancer to ensure that they have to receive the best breast cancer treatment possible and to overcome the biggest threat of breast cancer recurrence.

09.

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