Breast cancer radiotherapy in pregnancy

Adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer reduces the risk of locoregional recurrence, distant disease and improves the survival of breast cancer patients. The incidence of breast cancer in pregnancy is constantly increasing, and it is expected that an increasing number of pregnant breast cancer patients will require radiation. Ionizing radiation can have a harmful effect on the fetus, which depends on the radiation dose and the gestational age of the fetus at the time of exposure to ionizing radiation. Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to radiotherapy for breast cancer, provided that radiation is carefully planned and appropriate protection is used