Psychosocial
care Pregnancy-associated breast cancer
Jennifer Stephens, RN, BSN, MA, OCN,
Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Vancouver General
Hospital, BC. PhD student, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver.
To view the complete article click
here (pdf format)
TRIAL SUMMARY: Program addresses social, emotional and physical
needs of young women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy
or 1 year postpartum
To view the complete article click
here (pdf format)
Pregnancy is safe after a diagnosis of
breast cancer.
As women are delaying childbearing, incidence
of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is increasing.
What this study showed
PABC has major social, emotional and physical
impacts on young women who are diagnosed.
Delays in breast cancer diagnosis during
pregnancy or immediately postpartum have been attributed to blocked
milk ducts or pregnancy-associated hormonal changes.
Dominant concerns for patients with PABC
include increased rates of morbidity and mortality, distress over
continued fertility, impact of disease and treatment on the newborn,
body image anxiety, and higher risk of early menopause.
Next steps
Increased awareness of the incidence of
PABC is necessary for earlier diagnosis, treatment and discussion
about fertility preservation.
The successful PYNK program provides a
model for timely and appropriate care for PABC patients both in
Canada and internationally.
