ABSTRACT
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer, although relatively rare, poses unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. It is often identified in younger women and tends to be more advanced at diagnosis, resulting in poorer outcomes. Early detection is hindered by physiological breast changes during pregnancy, making it crucial to investigate any clinically suspicious breast masses. Diagnostic tools like breast ultrasound and mammography, when fetal shielding is ensured, play key roles in evaluation. Core-needle biopsy is essential for tissue diagnosis. Treatment approaches must be individualized, considering gestational age, disease stage, and patient preference. The goal is curative breast cancer treatment while preserving the pregnancy. Surgical options are similar to non-gestational breast cancer. Radiation therapy is avoided during pregnancy, and chemotherapy is carefully considered, with better safety profiles in the second and third trimesters. Despite the challenges, patients with pregnancy-associated breast cancer have shown similar survival rates compared to non-pregnant counterparts. This underscores the feasibility and effectiveness of definitive treatment and local control during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing this unique form of breast cancer.
