title: Management of pregnancy associated breast cancer with chemotherapy in a developing country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although breast cancer is a common cancer, Pregnancy associated breast cancer is uncommon. Adjuvant chemotherapy administered intrapartum has been resolved to be safe from the second trimester.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review cases of pregnancy associated breast cancer managed with adjuvant intrapartum chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gravid patients diagnosed with breast cancer had chemotherapy administered by a slow infusion protocol at 3 weekly interval from the second trimester till 4 weeks to expected date of delivery. Obstetric scans were done to monitor fetal growth and development. Requisite surgery was carried out intrapartum and postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were three cases of pregnancy associated breast cancer Age range 32-33 years, mean 32.5 years. Two cases presented in the second trimester while one presented in the third trimester. The second case had overt metastatic disease and was grave in respiratory distress. Histology showed invasive lobular carcinoma in two cases and extensive intraductal carcinoma with invasive component in the third. Immunohistochemistry showed triple negative in the first case and hormone positive in the third case. Wide local excision was done for a 3cm lump in the first case and mastectomy postpartum in the third case. but had no surgery. Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide was administered three weekly from the second trimester up to 32 weeks and continued postpartum. Taxanes was administered afterwards. The grave clinical state of the second case was markedly improved with the first cycle of chemotherapy instituted. All cases had spontaneous vaginal delivery with good apgar scores. Children had normal developmental milestones. First case with breast conservation is clinically disease free, the second case demised postpartum from disease progression while the third had a mastectomy and is on cue for radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjuvant intrapartum chemotherapy had a successful outcome with birth of normal babies with normal developmental milestones in our miniseries.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery, Delta state university, Abraka, Nigeria. Electronic address: emmasule2010@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emmanuel A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sule
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin Teaching hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Festus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ewemade
keywords: Breast cancer; Chemotherapy; Pregnancy