ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy is a difficult and challenging scenario which requires urgent, multidisciplinary discussion and collaboration between the breast team, the obstetric team and the family doctor. Suspicion of breast cancer due to the presence of a breast lump in a pregnant woman should prompt an urgent ‘Two-Week Rule' referral to a breast specialist team. Following taking a careful general and obstetric history and clinical examination, ultrasound is the first-line imaging investigation. Care of the pregnant woman should be undertaken by a multidisciplinary team and the decision to proceed with pregnancy should involve a discussion regarding prognosis, treatment, impact on future fertility and the patient's wishes. Blue dye for assessment of sentinel nodes is recommended due to the unknown effect on the growing fetus and the risk of anaphylaxis, but it can be performed safely using low-dose radioisotope scintigraphy.
