Pregnancy and breast cancer risk

Breast Cancer risk During Pregnancy

Breast Cancer has become one of the major causes of death among women, aged from 25 to 55. Out of the new cases reported around 10% or more women are younger than 44 years. Breast cancer during pregnancy occurs in 1 out of 3000 cases.

Breast Cancer risk during pregnancy

Breast Cancer in pregnancy is quite rare but the reality is that it occurs. Treatment for breast cancer during pregnancy does not affect the health of mother as well as of child in her womb. But there are still cases where doctor advices the pregnant woman to discontinue the pregnancy seeing the probability chances of risks related to improper development of or miss carriage.

Early Pregnancy To Avoid Breast Cancer

Studies indicate that being pregnant can actually prevent breast cancer if the mother is below 30 years of age, in case she is having the first child or having multiple children before this age.

Pregnancy After Breast Cancer

Due to change in life styles and preferences women today delay childbirth to their thirties. It results into increasing number of patients who have not completed their family planning and plan to have it after diagnosis of breast cancer. However there is no concrete solution available to preserve the ovarian functions which get affected due to chemotherapy, still many medical experts support the view of women planning for pregnancy while being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Baring few risks women undergoing breast cancer treatment can still preserve their fertility and can get pregnant without any consequences for the fetus or child. Medical experts also suggest waiting for at least 2 years after treatment before planning to conceive to look back the point of the biggest threat of breast cancer recurrence. But there are women who really decide to go ahead and bear babies since they love to have them.

Causes of Breast Cancer

Researchers say that breast cancer is caused due to several common synthetic chemicals affecting natural levels of Estrogen. However Estrogens only cause breast cancer when there is development of man made or environmental Estrogens called Xenoestrogens.

Factors Increasing Risk Of Breast Cancer

• Women with family history of breast cancer cases
• In case menstruation starts before 12 years of age and late menopause
• Giving birth to first child after 30 years of age or never giving birth to child
• Obesity also increases the chances of breast cancer
• Smoking and other addictions

Prevention of Breast Cancer

If the natural level of Estrogens is maintained, it prevents the breast cancer. Natural plant estrogens are also called Phytoestrogens. Proper intake of Vitamin B, anti oxidants and other nutrients in balanced proportion can also prevent the breast cancer. Some experiment also find garlic to be good protector against breast cancer.

Treatment For Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

Honestly speaking, tamoxifen, radiation, chemotherapy and any other drug related therapies are ignored especially if the woman is expectant because of the birth defects risk associated with it. Tamoxifen is particularly considered as very unsafe as it is hormonal therapy and doctors never recommend this treatment when the women are pregnant.

Chemotherapy actually depends on the age and what kind of drug was used- as these drugs affect the fertility more than any other. And having Tamoxifen after the chemotherapy to avoid recurrence is not at all suggested if woman want to become pregnant right away. Though tamoxifen at times used as fertility medication, there are proven that tells it damages the embryos and that’s why is not at all safe to be used.

Early stage breast cancer (stages I & II) treatment

Surgery is the first consideration during initial stages of breast cancer during pregnancy. Radiations from chemotherapy can affect the fetus but if radiations are under control, it may be a good choice. Chemotherapy given after the first trimester of pregnancy is quite safe for fetus. Surgery is a conservative and safe option also in postpartum stage. Some medical experts also have the opinion of delaying the surgery till the time of delivery.

Late stage breast cancer (stages III & IV) treatment

When breast cancer has reached to its later stage, it’s recommended to avoid radiation therapy during first trimester. Most studies show a low survival rate of mothers (5 years survival in 10% of cases) and a risk of fetal damage with chemotherapy during first trimester.