Keep Breast Aware During Pregnancy Advises Top Consultant
As women delay childbirth until their thirties and forties the incidence of breast cancer in pregnant women may increase as age is the biggest risk factor, top breast consultant advises women to be even more vigilant and be breast aware.
Former-Casualty-actress Rebekah Gibbs was just 34 and pregnant with her first child when she found a lump the size of a walnut in her breast. She recently returned to the clinic, where she was treated, to show staff her healthy baby and to officially open the latest in a series of BreastHealth UK clinics being opened across the country.
The concept of BreastHealth UK, was developed by consultant breast surgeon Professor Gordon Wishart. He set up the first clinic in Cambridge with a vision to provide women of all ages with access to high quality, breast screening, diagnosis and treatment services.
He comments: “We are delighted that Rebekah was willing to open the new clinic in Tunbridge Wells and to raise awareness of the need for vigilance. Cancer in pregnancy is rare and so it has taken us some time to understand many of the links between pregnancy and breast cancer. But as the risk of breast cancer increases with age, so may the incidence of breast cancer in pregnant women, as many women now delay having children because of work-related issues.
Professor Wishart recommends that women continue to check their own breasts while pregnant: “One of the first signs of pregnancy is swelling of the breasts and the tenderness associated with this which is perfectly normal. However, it is important to keep self-checking every few weeks while taking a shower so that you are aware of how your breasts are changing.
“If you do notice something unusual make an appointment to see your GP so that you can be referred as soon as possible to the local breast unit. You should make sure that your GP mentions your pregnancy in the referral letter and make sure you also tell the clinic that you are pregnant when you attend.
“Your pregnancy will be taken into account when deciding on the investigations, for example mammography will not be used as it involves radiation, but breast ultrasound and biopsy, and biopsy if required, are extremely safe during pregnancy.”
A woman with breast cancer in pregnancy is looked after jointly by a team of cancer specialists and an obstetrician (doctor who specialises in childbirth) who should always be fully involved in all discussions. The patient needs to understand her illness, and how treatments may affect her and her pregnancy, so that she can make her own decisions.
Some women delay consulting their GP as they believe that they will be asked to terminate the pregnancy, however advice by Cancerbackup.org.uk and others says that ending the pregnancy doesn’t improve a woman's chances of recovery so doctors don't often advise this.
Prof Wishart believes that a comprehensive breast clinic that provides a variety of diagnostic techniques and has access to a range of breast health specialists is one of the best ways in which women can be helped to make better informed health decisions.
“Pregnancy is a particularly emotional time and women need to be able to think through the various options and their implications with her doctors, partner and family. Everyone is different and approaches these issues from a different perspective. The sooner that these discussions start, the better.”
He offers this advice to patients that are in remission from breast cancer:
“There is no evidence that pregnancy will worsen the prognosis from a previous breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and you should be able to breastfeed from your non-treated breast. Now, just over a year later, Rebekah is once again looking forward to her future and to years of motherhood. She has written a book, Because of You, detailing her fight to survive and see her little girl grow up.
For further information about BreastHealth UK please visit www.breasthealthuk.com