Pregnancy Associated Breast Cancer

  • Arifa Manzoor Assistant Professor Department of General Surgery Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
Keywords: Breast Cancer

Abstract

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is defined as breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within one year postpartum. The aim of this editorial is to emphasize the early detection of PABC, including PABC in the differential diagnosis while investigating a breast mass in the perinatal period and managing it appropriately. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women as well as most common malignancy among female patients of reproductive age group.1 Every year around 11% breast carcinomas are projected to be diagnosed in women under the age of 45 with a higher reported incidence in developing countries.2 It is estimated that between 1 in 3000 and 1 in 10,000 pregnancies, can become problematic by the diagnosis of breast cancer.3 Breast cancer during pregnancy (BCP) is a rare condition and its incidence ranges between 2.4 and 7.3 per 100,000 pregnancies.4 There are indications that the incidence of breast cancer in young women and the occurrence of BCP is increasing.5   Current trend of postponing pregnancy to later in life is also likely to increase the incidence of pregnancy associated breast cancer in future.6

Published
2018-12-11
Section
Editorial