Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6170406 | The Breast | 2013 | 6 Pages |
BackgroundThis study examined pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) and pregnancy following treatment for breast cancer.MethodsWe analysed data from a questionnaire-based, prospective study of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Timing of diagnosis in relation to pregnancy was self-reported in the enrolment questionnaire. Women reported subsequent pregnancies in annual follow-up questionnaires, up to at least 5Â years from diagnosis.ResultsWomen with PABC made up 3.3% of women <48Â years at diagnosis and 14.3% of women aged <35Â years at diagnosis. Nine of 46 (19.6%) women who were aged <40Â years at diagnosis, and had either no children, or only one child, became pregnant subsequent to their diagnosis, and 8 experienced a live birth.DiscussionAs the number of women with PABC was small, conclusions from this study are limited. However, young women should be alert to PABC, especially in the post-partum period. Some women, with incomplete families at diagnosis, are choosing to have one or more pregnancies following treatment.