According to a retrospective study carried out by researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center, there is no difference in overall survival, disease-free survival and progression-free survival between pregnant women treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer, and women who received the same treatment but who were not pregnant.
The study looked at 54 pregnant patients and 108 "control" patients who were not pregnant between 1997 and 2009. All received the chemotherapy regimen FAC (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) and all were either in their second or third trimester.
Additionally, their results suggested that five-year survival rates for the women who were pregnant were 74 percent, much higher than the 55.75 percent rate for non-pregnant women.
Ultimately, researchers concluded that "standard breast cancer therapy should be implemented during pregnancy and optimal systemic treatment need not be delayed. Standard chemotherapy regimens can be safely used."
CANCER TYPE(S)
Breast cancer
TREATMENT TYPE(S)
Chemotherapy
WHERE WAS THIS STUDY PUBLISHED?
This study was presented as an abstract. It has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal; until then its findings should be considered preliminary only.
Source(s)
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Los Angeles Times
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