| Although it is rare for breast cancer to strike | | | | especially, is considered very unsafe because it is a |
| younger women, the fact remains that all women are | | | | hormonal therapy and is never recommended if the |
| at risk. And for those of childbearing age, the first | | | | woman is pregnant or planning on conceiving. |
| sign and symptoms of breast cancer leading to a | | | | Surgery-either a lumpectomy or mastectomy-is the |
| diagnosis can not only be upsetting and unexpected, | | | | most common and preferred method of treatment |
| but complicated as well. | | | | for breast cancer in pregnant women. |
| Developing breast cancer at a younger age-in a | | | | Another concern is whether or not breast cancer |
| woman's 40s, 30s, even 20s-will mean making | | | | survivors can or should go on to have children after |
| important and difficult decisions about one's life and | | | | treatment and recovery. It's a very controversial |
| future perhaps much sooner than originally expected. | | | | issue with firm advocates on both sides of the |
| One concern is developing breast cancer during | | | | debate. |
| pregnancy, which although rare, can still occur. In this | | | | There are two main questions here, for both the |
| case, the treatment chosen will not only affect the | | | | medical and health community and breast cancer |
| patient and her body, but the growing baby inside | | | | survivors wanting their own children: 1) Do certain |
| her as well. It will depend on what stage of | | | | breast cancer treatments affect fertility?; and 2) Is it |
| pregnancy she is in (first, second or third trimester) | | | | actually considered safe to conceive and carry a |
| and what stage her cancer is in-such as whether or | | | | baby to term following breast cancer and breast |
| not it's advanced. | | | | cancer treatments? |
| Most pregnant women can have treatment for their | | | | As far as fertility goes, there is no definite answer |
| breast cancer without affecting the baby. But some | | | | here. For chemotherapy, it depends on the age and |
| might be advised by their obstetrician or health-care | | | | what specific drug was used-some affect fertility |
| practitioner-or even decide themselves-to terminate | | | | more than others. And taking tamoxifen after |
| the pregnancy, more so if the pregnancy is in its | | | | chemotherapy to prevent recurrence is not |
| earlier stages, in order to receive certain treatments | | | | recommended if the woman desires to become |
| that would be too risky otherwise. But it is essential | | | | pregnant right away. Although tamoxifen is |
| to remember that it is a woman's own decision-it is | | | | sometimes used as a fertility treatment, there is |
| not medically necessary to terminate a pregnancy if | | | | evidence to suggest that it damages developing |
| the expectant mother is diagnosed with breast | | | | embryos, and therefore is not considered safe to |
| cancer. All it does is limit treatment options. Breast | | | | use. |
| cancer itself will not affect the fetus-only certain | | | | Many doctors caution these women to wait several |
| tests and treatments will. | | | | years to ensure receiving the best breast cancer |
| Generally speaking, tamoxifen, chemotherapy, | | | | treatment possible and to go past the point of the |
| radiation, and other drug-related therapies are | | | | biggest threat of breast cancer recurrence. But some |
| avoided if the woman is pregnant because of their | | | | women decide to go ahead and have babies anyway, |
| associated risks with birth defects. Tamoxifen, | | | | since it's so important to them. |