This rare event combines cancer cure and baby care, which is quite hard. It generates many feelings and hard choices for future moms. The struggle to treat breast cancer while pregnant is tricky. It's about making sure the mom is okay and the baby is safe. This blog will talk about the good and safe ways to treat breast cancer in pregnancy. These are based on advice from experts from the best cancer hospital in Kolkata and recent studies. It will help those dealing with these two big things at the same time. It will give knowledge on how doctors handle this uncommon and delicate position.

Breast Cancer and Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks

It is filled with risks and problems. Mothers expecting a child and those with breast cancer need to grasp these risks. This knowledge is also vital for their healthcare takers. This piece explores how often such cases happen, why they're hard to diagnose, and the dangers of treating breast cancer while pregnant. 

Prevalence of Breast Cancer in Pregnancy

Although not often, breast cancer can occur during pregnancy. Among cancers found during pregnancy, it's a common one, and it can happen at any point during pregnancy. Its occurrence may go up as more women plan to have babies later in life, a phase when breast cancer risks naturally climb up.

Diagnostic Challenges

1. Symptom Overlap: Pregnancy brings about significant changes in the breasts, such as tenderness and enlargement, which can mask the symptoms of breast cancer. This overlap can lead to delayed or missed diagnoses.

2. Screening Hurdles: Normal breast cancer checks, such as mammograms, get tricky during pregnancy. Why? The breast gets denser, and we must shield the baby from radiation. So, even though mammograms are still doable, doctors often use alternative methods like ultrasound.

3. Hormonal Effects: Pregnancy leads to a rush of hormones. What's the catch? These hormones can drive hormone-sensitive breast cancers to grow faster. Hence, it gets more difficult to diagnose and plan treatment for these cancers.

Risks Associated with Treatment During Pregnancy

1. Surgery Problems: Surgery is commonly used, but there are normal risks. Pregnancy can ramp up these risks. They're linked to anesthesia and surgery's strain on the mom and baby.

2. Issues with Chemotherapy: Giving chemotherapy during pregnancy raises worries, mainly in the first three months. Risks include congenital disabilities, miscarriages, and more. Yet, studies show that chemotherapy in months four to nine is often safer. But, risks like premature birth and low birth weight stay.

3. Mental Stress: Finding out you have breast cancer while pregnant hits hard. The fear of cancer and getting ready for a new child can pile up. It might mean extra mental support is needed.

Surgical Treatment: The Primary Approach

The NCI reports that for pregnant women with breast cancer, surgery is usually the first course of action. Aiming to match a non-pregnant woman's treatment for a similar kind and stage of cancer is the primary target. This method guarantees that pregnant women experience potent treatment promptly, without any needless wait.

Chemotherapy in the Second and Third Trimesters

Chemotherapy is generally considered safe during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Research indicates that children exposed to chemotherapy after the first 14 weeks of gestation do not experience more problems than those who aren't exposed. However, chemotherapy is typically stopped 2 to 3 weeks before the expected delivery date to reduce the risk of complications during birth.

Post-Delivery Treatment Options

After childbirth, additional treatment options become available. Drugs targeting the HER2/neu protein, such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, can be used. These targeted therapies offer new avenues for treatment postpartum, although their implications for breastfeeding and the mother's recovery must be carefully considered.

Balancing Treatment with Pregnancy

Handling breast cancer while pregnant needs cooperation between cancer doctors and pregnancy experts. Constant checks on the baby's health are vital, and so is the mom's health. This joint attention promises good results for both mom and baby.

Conclusion

Seeing breast cancer when pregnant is surely tricky and filled with feelings. But, thanks to new medical breakthroughs and team efforts of cancer doctors and pregnancy doctors, hopeful treatments are possible. The secret is custom care. We shape the treatment plans to fit each patient's exact needs and situation. For women in this tough spot, it's key to find help from medical teams who know how to handle both cancer and pregnancy care. 

This blog from the best cancer hospital in India is a light of hope and a guide, showing that with the right steps, treating breast cancer during pregnancy can work. It highlights the need for smart choices, caring care, and the non-stop aim for the greatest results for both mom and baby. As we learn more about medicine and treatments get better, there is a bright, healthy future for moms and babies, even with breast cancer.