Treatment for this type of cancer during pregnancy is usually done with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on the size and development of the tumor, as well as on the gestational age and the willingness of the pregnant woman to continue with pregnancy, for example.
However, unlike the treatment of breast cancer in women who are not pregnant, there are risks in some of the treatment techniques and, therefore, the treatment should be evaluated by the doctor and the woman, according to the development phase of the pregnancy in each case.
Top Treatments for Breast Cancer in Pregnancy
The most commonly used treatments during pregnancy to treat breast cancer are:
1. Surgery for breast cancer in pregnancy
Surgery to remove the tumor in cases of breast cancer in pregnancy involves few risks and therefore can be done during any stage of gestation without influencing the development of the baby. In most cases, surgery is not enough to treat breast cancer, and other complementary treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be needed.
Depending on the gestational age, the surgery can affect the development of the baby, so the doctor will evaluate the development phase of the cancer to know if it is possible to delay the surgery until it is possible to start using the other treatments without risks to the baby, for example.
2. Chemotherapy for breast cancer in pregnancy
Chemotherapy to treat breast cancer should only be done after the 4th month of gestation because there is a very high risk of developing malformations in the fetus during the first trimester. Thus, when breast cancer is still identified during the first trimester, treatment can be started with surgery and then supplemented with chemotherapy from the 4th month of gestation, for example.
However, when the cancer is very advanced it may be necessary to start chemotherapy in the first trimester, and it may be necessary to interrupt the pregnancy to avoid serious damage to the baby.
In addition, when the pregnant woman begins chemotherapy after the second trimester she should stop the treatment after 35 weeks or 3 weeks before the baby's birth to avoid having severe complications during labor, such as heavy bleeding or generalized infection.
3. Radiation therapy for breast cancer in pregnancy
Radiation therapy for breast cancer should not be done in pregnancy because it implies risk of severe malformations in the baby at any stage of pregnancy, so it is recommended that radiotherapy should only be done after birth.
In some cases, when the pregnant woman is in the third trimester of pregnancy, the obstetrician may advise to anticipate delivery if the baby is well developed for treatment with radiation therapy to be started more quickly.
Is it possible to breastfeed during treatment for breast cancer?
Breastfeeding during treatment for breast cancer is not advised because chemotherapy drugs as well as radiotherapy radiation can pass into the milk and be ingested by the baby and can influence its development and growth.
In addition, when the woman will undergo surgery to remove the cancer after delivery, she should also not breastfeed because breastfeeding causes an increase in breast volume and vascularization, making surgery more complex.
Find out if you can get pregnant after breast cancer and ask other common questions.
