Motherhood Preserved While Fighting Cancer: Rare Breast Cancer Surgery Successfully Performed on a 26-Week Pregnant Woman

Motherhood Preserved While Fighting Cancer: Rare Breast Cancer Surgery Successfully Performed on a 26-Week Pregnant Woman

Pune: Doctors at TGH Onco-Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon, successfully performed a life-saving right mastectomy on a 27-year-old woman who was 26 weeks pregnant, treating a rare and aggressive high-grade breast sarcoma while safely protecting both the mother and her unborn baby.

The surgery was led by Dr. Utkarsh Ajgaonkar (Surgical Oncologist), Dr. Madhura Kumbhojkar (Surgeon), Dr. Vishwas Kaul (Head of Anaesthesiology), Dr. Ravindra Nakhate (Gynaecologist), and Dr. Ashiwini Shirsat (Paediatrician), along with a multidisciplinary team. Breast sarcoma is an extremely rare cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases, and is even rarer during pregnancy.

The patient initially ignored a breast lump, assuming it was related to pregnancy. However, when she later developed a persistent fever and an infected breast wound, she was admitted to TGH Onco-Life Cancer Centre, where investigations confirmed high-grade breast sarcoma. Since chemotherapy is generally ineffective for this type of cancer and PET-CT scans could not be performed during pregnancy, surgery was the only life-saving treatment option.

The one-hour surgery was successfully completed on 2 July, with continuous monitoring of the unborn baby throughout the procedure. The patient recovered well and was discharged on 4 July. Both the mother and baby are currently in good health, and further treatment will be planned after delivery based on the findings of a PET-CT scan.

Dr. Utkarsh Ajgaonkar emphasized that early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial, especially if a breast lump develops or grows rapidly during pregnancy. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary, patient-centred cancer care, ensuring the safety and well-being of both the mother and her child.