Breast cancer and pregnancy
P. Nugent and T. X. O'Connell
Previous studies have found a poor prognosis for breast cancer occurring
during pregnancy due to the intense hormonal stimulation produced by the
pregnancy. In our study of 176 patients, pregnancy did not seem directly to
affect the prognosis of breast cancer. Rather, poor survival was related to
the patients' youth (less than 40 years old) and to the large number of
estrogen receptor-negative tumors. Of the pregnant patients, 71% had
estrogen receptor-negative tumors, implying hormonal insensitivity.
Terminating the pregnancy on this basis does not seem warranted. Subsequent
pregnancies in young patients did not seem to affect survival adversely.
Future pregnancy in patients with stage I tumors can be considered after
two years. Survival is so poor in patients with stage II or III tumors that
subsequent pregnancies should be discouraged for socioethical reasons.
