Breast cancer can occur at any time, including during pregnancy. It's the most common form of cancer in pregnancy, affecting approximately one in 3,000 women.
Although pregnancy itself does not cause breast cancer and breast cancer itself does not harm the developing fetus, it requires specialized treatment. At UPMC, our experts offer a full range of treatment options and will develop a personalized plan to reduce risks for both mother and baby.
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Breast cancer occurs when cells in your breast multiply and grow out of control, forming a tumor that can spread to surrounding tissues or other areas of your body. Breast cancer can occur at any time, including during pregnancy.
Breast cancer treatment during pregnancy is possible. However, some treatment options — such as radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy — are not recommended during pregnancy due to the risk of harm to your unborn baby.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of each treatment option with you and develop a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and preferences.
Your breast cancer care team will work with maternal-fetal medicine experts to reduce treatment-associated risks for you and your unborn baby.
Any type of breast cancer can occur during pregnancy, including:
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in pregnancy, affecting approximately one in 3,000 women.
Pregnancy itself does not cause breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs when cells in your breast multiply and grow out of control, forming a tumor that can spread to surrounding tissues or other areas of your body.
Pregnancy is associated with a specific set of risks for breast cancer, including:
Due to changing hormones during pregnancy, breast cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage in pregnant women. A later diagnosis can allow breast cancer to spread to other areas of the body, making it more challenging to treat.
Breast cancer treatment during pregnancy is possible, but it's more complex due to the possible effects on the developing baby.
There is nothing you can do to prevent breast cancer during pregnancy. Although routine breast cancer screening with mammography is considered safe during pregnancy, women who are not eligible for routine screening should perform monthly breast self-exams to increase the chances of identifying symptoms early.
Symptoms of breast cancer during pregnancy include:
If you notice symptoms of breast cancer, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
To diagnose breast cancer associated with pregnancy, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and order imaging tests.
If your doctor suspects breast cancer, they will:
Your doctor may order diagnostic imaging studies, including:
Because mammography uses only a small amount of radiation, it is considered safe during pregnancy. However, your doctor may recommend MRI or ultrasound imaging as an alternative diagnostic imaging technique to reduce radiation exposure to your developing baby.
Your doctor may also order a minimally invasive breast biopsy, which involves using a hollow needle to take a sample of breast tissue to be tested for cancer. Your doctor will perform the biopsy using mammography, MRI, or ultrasound guidance and local anesthesia to numb the treatment area, which is considered safe during pregnancy.
Early diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy improves the chances of successful treatment. However, it is often diagnosed in its later stages due to changing hormone levels.
Your prognosis after a breast cancer diagnosis will depend on your overall health, as well as the type and stage of your breast cancer. Your doctor will discuss your expected prognosis with you.
Survival rates for breast cancer in pregnancy depend on the type and stage of the cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, most studies have shown that outcomes for pregnant and nonpregnant women diagnosed with the same type and stage of breast cancer are the same.
The goals of breast cancer treatment are to remove the tumor, reduce the risk that the cancer will spread to other parts of your body, and lower the chances of recurrence after treatment.
Your care team will develop a personalized treatment plan based on:
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of each treatment, which may include:
Surgery is often the primary treatment for breast cancer and is considered safe during pregnancy.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may recommend:
Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove and test your lymph nodes to determine whether your breast cancer has spread.
Lymph node procedures include:
Anesthesia — the medication used to make you sleep during surgery — is generally considered safe during pregnancy. If your doctor recommends breast cancer surgery during pregnancy, your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and a high-risk obstetrician will work together to develop an anesthesia plan that minimizes risk for you and your baby.
Medical oncology for breast cancer involves using different types of anticancer medications to slow or stop breast cancer growth. It can be administered before or after surgery, or as a long-term treatment to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Chemotherapy — which uses medications that travel through your bloodstream to kill cancer cells throughout your body — is considered safe during your second or third trimester. It is not safe during your first trimester.
Hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are not recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to your unborn baby.
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that uses radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. Because radiation therapy for breast cancer involves using high-energy x-rays to precisely target your tumor, it is not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk of harm to the fetus from radiation exposure.
When you choose UPMC for breast cancer care during pregnancy, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-09-18.
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