Pregnancy after breast cancer: obstetrics and feto-maternal outcomes

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy after breast cancer (BC) is possible and does not have a negative impact on prognosis, even in hormone receptor-positive or BRCA1/2-mutated patients. Despite this, the estimated pregnancy achievability in BC survivors is significantly inferior when compared to that of women who did not have cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigated pregnancies after BC in 18 women monitored at the Oncofertility Center of the Italian Sandro Pertini Hospital. We compared maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes against general population data. Then, we evaluated the impact of chemotherapy on feto-maternal outcomes.

RESULTS: Compared to findings from the general population, our results show that pregnancy after BC may have more obstetrical complications, such as premature delivery and cesarean section; in addition, our research showed a possible correlation between the occurrence of gestational diabetes and previous chemotherapy treatment. The rate of breastfed survivors appeared lower than that of women in the general population, as summarized in the article’s main findings.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, pregnancy after BC is safe for both mother and fetus/newborn but requires strict follow-up in referral centers to best manage possible obstetric complications, particularly in women who have undergone chemotherapy.

Graphical Abstract