Breast Cancer and Pregnancy: An Overview
In women who are pregnant or who have just given birth,
breast cancer occurs most often between the ages of 32 and 38. Breast cancer occurs in about 1 in every 3,000 pregnancies.
It may be difficult to find breast cancer early in pregnant or nursing women, whose breasts are often tender and swollen. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or have just given birth usually have tender, swollen breasts. This can make small lumps difficult to detect and may lead to delays in diagnosing breast cancer. Because of these delays, cancers are often found at a later stage in these women.
Screening for Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
To detect breast cancer, pregnant and nursing women should undergo regular
breast cancer screening. This includes examining their breasts themselves. Women should also receive clinical breast examinations during their routine prenatal and postnatal examinations.
Staging Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
While
breast cancer stages and the process of staging are no different for pregnant women, certain staging tests may be adjusted for women who are pregnant. For example, standard methods for giving imaging scans can be adjusted so that the fetus is exposed to less radiation.
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