Pregnancy doesn’t affect survival from breast cancer

It’s got to be one of the worst nightmares of pregnancy – finding out you have cancer while you’re pregnant. Unfortunately it does happen (Pregnant and receiving chemotherapy, Cancer and pregnancy – a much wanted birth). Researchers say that over 3%, almost 4%, of pregnancies may be complicated by breast cancer. It’s estimated that the numbers will go higher though, as women have babies later in life and older age does also increase the chances of developing the disease.

Finding out you have cancer while you’re pregnant brings about many decisions that have to be made, any one of which may make the difference between beating the cancer or not. But, there may be some good news for women who do have to live through this. A new study, just published in the March 15 issue of the journal Cancer.

The researchers, from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, found that women who developed breast cancer either during their pregnancy or within a year after didn’t differ from other women in the same age group in terms of recurrence to the same area, cancer spreading (metastases) and overall survival.

According to a press release issued by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, treatment of pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) is often delayed though, not only because of the pregnancy, but because it’s diagnosed later. Pregnant women often don’t notice the changes in their breasts because they associate them with the pregnancy, not cancer. This may delay seeing a doctor and being diagnosed.

"What we did find, however, is that women with PABC presented with more advanced disease, both in the breast and lymph nodes," said Beadle. "These women seem to have a significant delay in diagnosis, and their symptoms were not identified as breast cancer for an extended period of time – putting them at a disadvantage by withholding necessary treatment."

The release goes on to say:

"Women really need to be aware of changes to their breasts that persist, even during pregnancy and to discuss these changes immediately with their doctor," said Perkins. "The study also proves that there’s a vital opportunity for physicians to focus on complete breast care during a patient’s pregnancy, and should include cancer as a possible diagnosis. Persistent complaints should be monitored aggressively, with breast exams, imaging and biopsy, all being conducted as necessary."

To read the full press release, go to Study finds pregnancy has no impact on breast cancer survival, delays treatment, diagnosis

~~~~

Image: Newscom

Tags: cancer blog, breast cancer, breast cancer during pregnancy