Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Survival Chapel Hill NC

Developing breast cancer during or within a year of pregnancy may not -- as previously thought -- affect the severity of the disease or the chance of surviving it, according to new research.

Of 652 women, 35 or younger, with breast cancer participating in a University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center study, about 16 percent had the rare pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC).

Rates of cancer recurrence, spread and survival after 10 years were virtually the same among women with PABC and the other women with breast cancer.

The finding contradicts previous studies that had suggested that women with PABC fared worse than non-pregnant breast cancer patients.

Though researchers noted that pregnancy often causes a delay in diagnosing as well as treating breast cancer, they found that women improved their chances of survival by receiving treatment during pregnancy rather than waiting until after giving birth.

"Primary care and reproductive physicians should be aggressive in the work-up of breast symptoms in the pregnant population to expedite diagnosis and allow multidisciplinary treatment," the authors wrote in their report, published in the March 15 issue of Cancer . "Balancing the health of mother and child is paramount; new evidence suggests that both can be prioritized and successful outcomes managed for both."

Breast cancer affects fewer than 4 percent of all pregnancies and rarely occurs in women younger than 40.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about pregnancy and breast cancer.

SOURCE: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, news release, Feb. 9, 2009

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John K Fong , MD

919-765-7483
5901 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC
John K Fong , MD AMA members must adhere to the AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics Primary Specialty (Self Designated)(note): OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Gender: Male Location: View Map Durham, NC 27707 Office Phone: 919-765-7483 Medical School: U OF BUFFALO, SUNY SCH OF MED & BIOMEDICAL SCI, BUFFALO NY 14214 Residency Training: UNIV OF PITTSBURGH MED CTR, OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY Major Professional Activity: OFFICE BASED PRACTICE American Board of Medical Specialties Certification: Copyright 2006 American Board of Medical Specialties. All rights reserved. Obstetrics & Gynecology AMA Physician's Recognition Award: This physician holds an AMA Physician's Recognition Award certificate (AMA PRA), valid through 02/01/2011. The AMA PRA certificate recognizes physicians who complete at least fifty hours of continuing medical education annually.