Update on the Management of Breast Cancer during Pregnancy

The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy represents a challenging situation for the patient, her caregivers and physicians. Pregnancy adds complexity to oncological treatment planning, as many therapies can be potentially dangerous to the fetus. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is need...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Francesca Poggio, Marco Tagliamento, Chiara Pirrone, Davide Soldato, Benedetta Conte, Chiara Molinelli, Maurizio Cosso, Piero Fregatti, Lucia Del Mastro, Matteo Lambertini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Cancers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/12/3616
Description
Summary:The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy represents a challenging situation for the patient, her caregivers and physicians. Pregnancy adds complexity to oncological treatment planning, as many therapies can be potentially dangerous to the fetus. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to offer a proper care for obtaining the best possible outcomes for the mother and the future child. Breast surgery is feasible throughout the pregnancy while radiotherapy should be postponed after delivery. Administration of chemotherapy is considered safe and can be given during the second and third trimesters, while it is contraindicated in the first trimester due to the high risk of fetal malformations. Endocrine therapy and targeted agents are not recommended during the whole pregnancy period; however, limited data are available on the use of the majority of new anticancer drugs in this context. The aim of the current review is to provide an update on the current state of art about the management of women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy.
ISSN:2072-6694