Borstkanker tijdens en na de zwangerschap: Lastige diagnostiek van een agressieve ziekte

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy. Breast cancer during pregnancy or within the first postpartum year is commonly described as Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer (PABC). PABC often exhibits poorer histopathologic features and has a worse prognosis when compared to young breast cancer patients without a current or recent pregnancy. Here, we describe two cases of PABC in which the presenting symptoms of the patients were interpreted as pregnancy-related changes, causing a diagnostic delay. Therefore, we argue that every pregnant or postpartum woman with changes in the breast must be thoroughly evaluated to exclude the possibility of a malignancy. In case of any suspicion, patients must be referred to a breast cancer center for further evaluation.