The Western Australian gestational breast cancer project: a population-based study of the incidence, management and outcomes.
This descriptive population-based study estimates the incidence, and describes the management and outcomes for women diagnosed with gestational breast cancer (GBC) aged 15-44 years in Western Australia between January 1982 and December 2000. Gestational breast cancer accounted for 6.25% of breast cancers in Western Australian women less than 45 years of age, and complicated 23.6 per 100,000 pregnancies. Two thirds were diagnosed postpartum and a third while pregnant. The median time from first symptom to diagnosis was less than four weeks. Women diagnosed during pregnancy were more likely to have a pregnancy termination. Over 50% of women were lymph node positive and those diagnosed postpartum were more likely to have a mastectomy. Five-year survival was better than reported previously (73%). The incidence of GBC was lower than previously reported. Significant differences in pregnancy outcome and management exist between the pregnant and postpartum groups.
Ives
Angela D
AD
School of Surgery and Pathology, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia. iangela@sph.uwa.edu.au
Saunders
Christobel M
CM
Semmens
James B
JB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008408:Mastectomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology