Receiving treatment for breast cancer is arduous in itself. It demands a lot from a patient, not only physically and financially, but also emotionally. But what if you discover you have breast cancer during pregnancy?
Is chemotherapy an option? Although most doctors will not perform chemotherapy during teh first trimester, FAC chemotherapy (fluorouracil, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide) given during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy is generally found to be safe.
Will the treatment affect the baby? It depends on the drugs that will be administered. A new study published just last month indicates that pregnant breast cancer patients can be treated as close as possible to standard recommendations and receive chemotherapy, if it is indicated, while they are pregnant.
Should you perhaps postpone treatment until after giving birth? Whether you should delay your treatment or not depends on the type of cancer you have, how urgently your doctor thinks you need to begin chemotherapy, and how important it is for you to continue your pregnancy. These are questions you should discuss in length with your specialists.
Will you be able to breastfeed your baby? It depends. If you are no longer being treated with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, and if you still have a breast (just one will suffice!), breastfeeding is possible-and safe-after breast cancer.
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