When a woman is expecting a baby, her hormones are working in overdrive. Not only is her uterus changing and the baby growing, but her breasts are preparing for their future job as the newborn's food source. Breasts can get very sore and feel lumpy and bumpy and, well, frankly, like they're not even yours!
This is a time when some young moms-to-be—as they feel this strange new lumpiness—might even think they have breast cancer.
But please don't panic. Most changes that are felt and seen during pregnancy end up being related to the pregnancy and are of no concern.
That said, you should never simply dismiss any change that you notice in your breasts. Call your OB and get a clinical breast exam. There are situations—though rare, thank heavens—when a woman does have breast cancer at the same time she also learns that she is pregnant.
A cruel situation to say the least—celebrating one of the happiest moments of her life one moment, then fearing she may not be here to see or rear her child.
How is breast cancer diagnosed safely during pregnancy? Usually, an ultrasound is the first form of breast imaging used, since it doesn't expose the mother or baby to any radiation. If an ultrasound doesn't provide a clear diagnosis, then a mammogram is usually taken, with a lead shield covering the abdominal area to protect the baby. You might also have a core biopsy done, where a tissue sample is removed with a hollow needle and then examined under a microscope to determine if it's malignant.
What happens if the news is bad? Small tumors can be surgically removed quite safely during pregnancy. If, however, other treatments like chemo and radiation are needed, these need to be delayed a bit. (Although, believe it or not, a window of time does exist during pregnancy when chemo is actually safe to give. The saying "timing is everything" is certainly true in this case.) Radiation, however, must always be put off until after the baby is born.
There are more women today than in the past being diagnosed during pregnancy, but the numbers still remain small. Why the increase at all? Because women are waiting until later in life to start a family. One risk factor for breast cancer is a first pregnancy after the age of 30, an arrangement that is now quite common. The older we are, the higher our risk. Most women in the United States are diagnosed in their 40s and 50s, still fertile ground for having children.
So are you expecting? Congrats! Now, make a clinical breast exam part of that first OB visit, and make sure you have them done regularly. OB docs just shouldn't be checking you below the waist. You have the right to request a close look at the whole package.
