Gestational breast cancer in a patient with Crohn’s disease: two case reports

Abstract

Background Diagnosis of breast cancer during gestation is a rare occurrence. In addition, the diagnosis of breast cancer in a patient with Crohn’s disease is not common. We present a rare case of gestational breast cancer in a patient with Crohn’s disease, with a concurrent breast cancer diagnosis in her sister. Case presentation A 31-year-old Syrian woman with Crohn’s disease was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30 weeks gestation; she received neoadjuvant chemotherapy during gestation. Incidentally, her 37-year-old sister was also diagnosed concomitantly with breast cancer. Both sisters underwent and successfully completed surgery and adjuvant therapy. At a 5-year review, both patients showed no signs of recurrence. The Crohn’s disease symptoms have also improved after chemotherapy, and the baby born after gestational chemotherapy is currently 5 years old with normal psychomotor development and without any congenital malformations. Conclusions This case report highlights the impact of gestation on breast cancer outcomes, the possibility of giving chemotherapy during gestation, and the effect of chemotherapy on the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease and breast cancer: a literature review of the mechanisms and treatment

“…ER status is used to identify patients with early onset breast cancer who may need tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor in their treatment regimen. Administration of tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for 5 years in patients with ER + breast cancer was found to decrease recurrence by approximately 50% [ 7 , 8 ].…”