Issues Surrounding Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

Mrs. P is a 28-year-old African American woman who detected a nodule during breast self-examination. A mammogram was performed, and the radiologist interpreted the mass to be a cluster calcification. Mrs. P was instructed to return for follow-up in six months. Approximately two months later, she noted a slight increase in the size of the nodule (which measured 2.8 cm) and was sent to have a biopsy, which revealed an invasive ductal carcinoma that was poorly differentiated at stage IIB. During the two-month interval after the initial mammogram, she became pregnant. At the time of diagnosis, it was determined she was seven weeks pregnant. A modified radical mastectomy and immediate reconstruction was performed when she was 10 weeks pregnant.