Pregnancy and breast cancer: What happens to the baby if mother is diagnosed with breast cancer

Since the baby is still developing in the first trimester, chemotherapy is dangerous during this time. Chemotherapy with specific medications can be administered with greater safety in the second and third trimesters. (Image: Canva)

The relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer is a distinctive and complicated one that is becoming more and more important as more women choose to have later pregnancies. Advanced medical methods and more awareness are necessary due to the growing prevalence of breast cancer during pregnancy.

In order to protect the mother's health and safety as well as the growing baby's, diagnosing and treating breast cancer in expectant mothers involves a careful balancing act. Handling this dual issue calls for specific diagnostic techniques and well thought out treatment programs. It is vital to comprehend the consequences of breast cancer during pregnancy in order to offer suitable care and assistance to expectant women dealing with this challenging circumstances.

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Challenges in diagnosis -

Safe diagnostic methods: Breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy is especially difficult, says Dr Dinesh Singh, chairman radiation oncology, Andromeda Cancer hospital, Sonipat. While X-rays and CT scans should only be used when absolutely required, ultrasound and MRI scans are preferred since they spare the unborn child from hazardous radiation exposure. It is safe to conduct biopsies to verify a diagnosis. Even though some blood indicators may normally rise during pregnancy, they can still be very helpful in diagnosing conditions and developing treatment plans, says Singh.

Factors influencing treatment

Pregnancy-related breast cancer treatment is dependent on a number of factors, says Singh and highlights three aspects.

Stage of pregnancy: It is important to consider when to diagnose a patient based on her stage of pregnancy.

Stage of cancer: Treatment options are influenced by the cancer's aggressiveness and course.

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Biological type of cancer: The best course of action for treating breast cancer depends on its particular type.

Surgery and chemotherapy

Generally speaking, there is little to no risk to the unborn child when surgery is done in the second or third trimester. Chemotherapy presents more substantial difficulties, though. Since the baby is still developing in the first trimester, chemotherapy is dangerous during this time. Chemotherapy with specific medications can be administered with greater safety in the second and third trimesters.

During the time of delivery

Waiting for viability: Before considering delivery, Dr may decide to wait until the baby is viable if the breast cancer diagnosis is not immediately life-threatening. In certain instances, the mother may need to undergo an early delivery in order to start receiving aggressive cancer treatment.

Managing aggressive cancer: Waiting for the baby to become viable could be harmful to the mother's health in cases where the cancer is very aggressive. Premature abortion may need to be considered in such extreme cases, while this is a very personal and difficult choice.

Balancing risks and benefits

When cancer is present, the choice of whether to keep or end a pregnancy is extremely complicated and emotional. It relies on a number of variables, including the pregnancy stage, the kind and stage of the cancer, and the urgency of the therapy. When making this choice, the patient's wishes, and general health are also very important considerations.

Obstetricians, oncologists, and neonatologists must work together to manage cancer during pregnancy in order to provide the best potential outcomes for the woman and unborn child, says Singh. Since every case is different, treatment programs are customised to meet the specific requirements of both the adult and the growing child. Successfully completing this challenging path requires attentive observation and routine follow-ups.