This summary table contains detailed information about research studies. While viewing summary tables offers an informative glimpse at the science behind many breast cancer guidelines and recommendations, they should be viewed with some caution. There are a number of concepts you must understand to be able to successfully read and interpret research tables. To get some background information about understanding research tables, please see How to Read a Research Table.
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Introduction: At this time, there is no scientific evidence that a breast cancer survivor who goes on to have a child lowers her chances for long-term survival. One large study even found that women who had a child after breast cancer treatment had better overall survival rates than women who did not have a child after treatment [1].
However, women who become pregnant after completing treatment for breast cancer may be healthier than those who do not become pregnant after their treatment. For this reason, the results of studies on this topic may be limited to these healthier women.
Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different types of studies.
Having a child after treatment for breast cancer
If you would like to have a child after you finish breast cancer treatment, it is best to talk to your health care provider before you begin treatment. Your provider (or a fertility specialist) can discuss your options and the best timing of a pregnancy for you based on your treatment. Learn more about having a child after breast cancer treatment.
Study selection criteria: Cohort studies and case-control studies with more than 50 breast cancer cases.
Study
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Study Population
(number of participants)
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Worse Long-Term Survival in Women who Became Pregnant after Diagnosis Compared to Those who Did Not?
Yes / No
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Cohort studies
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Kroman et al. [1]
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10,236
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No
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Mueller et al. [2]
|
3,223
|
No
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Largillier et al. [3]
|
893 |
No |
Blakely et al. [4]
|
370
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No
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Ives et al. [5]
|
62
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No
|
Case-control studies
|
| |
Cases
|
Controls
|
|
Gelber et al. [6]
|
94
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188
|
No
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Sankila et al. [7]
|
91
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471
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No
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Mignot et al. [8]
|
68
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136
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No
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Velentgas et al. [9]
|
53
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265
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No
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References
- Kroman N, Jensen MB, Wohlfahrt J, Ejlertsen B. Pregnancy after treatment of breast cancer--a population-based study on behalf of Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group. Acta Oncol. 47(4):545-9, 2008.
- Mueller BA, Simon MS, Deapen D, et al. Childbearing and survival after breast carcinoma in young women. Cancer. 98(6): 1131-40, 2003.
- Largillier R, Savignoni A, Gligorov J, et al. for the GET(N)A Group. Prognostic role of pregnancy occurring before or after treatment of early breast cancer patients aged <35 years: a GET(N)A Working Group analysis. Cancer. 115(22):5155-5165, 2009.
- Blakely LJ, Buzdarm AU, Lozada JA, et al. Effects of Pregnancy after treatment for breast carcinoma on survival and risk of recurrence. Cancer. 100(3):465-9, 2004.
- Ives A, Saunders C, Bulsara M, Semmens J. Pregnancy after breast cancer: population based study. BMJ. 334(7586):194, 2007.
- Gelber S, Coates AS, Goldhirsch A, et al. Effect of pregnancy on overall survival after the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 19(6):1671-5, 2001.
- Sankila R, Heinavaara S, Hakulinen T. Survival of breast cancer patients after subsequent term pregnancy: "healthy mother effect". Am J Obstet Gynecol. 170(3):818-23, 1994.
- Mignot L, Morvan F, Berdah J, et al. Pregnancy after treated breast cancer. Results of a case-control study. Presse Med. 15(39):1961-4, 1986.
- Velentgas P, Daling JR, Malone KE, et al. Pregnancy after breast carcinoma. Outcomes and influence on mortality. Cancer. 85(11):2424-2432, 1999.
Updated 11/24/09
