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A diagnosis of breast cancer when a woman is in her thirties is especially difficult because choosing a partner and childbearing are often very important during this period.

Partner issues are also important because the diagnosis can be very distressing for the partner, as well as the patient. Partners are usually concerned about how to express their love physically and emotionally after treatment, especially surgery.

Sometimes women who have had breast cancer are afraid that changes to their body will affect not only how they look but how other people feel about them. They may be concerned that breast cancer and its treatment will affect their sexual relationships.

Many couples find that talking about these concerns helps them find ways to express their love during and after treatment. Some seek counseling or a couples' support group.

Cancer and Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant or nursing usually have tender, swollen breasts, making small lumps hard to detect and possibly leading to a delay in diagnosing (finding) breast cancer. These delays are common, with an average reported delay of 5 to 15 months between the start of symptoms and the diagnosis. Because of this delay, cancers are usually detected at a later stage than they are in women who are not pregnant.

To detect breast cancer, pregnant and nursing women should examine their breasts and undergo a breast examination as part of the routine prenatal examination by a doctor. If an abnormality is found, ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves to find tumors) and a mammogram (a special x-ray of the breast that may find tumors that are too small to feel) can be performed with little risk to the developing fetus.

Pregnancy in Breast Cancer Survivors
Because of the well-established link between estrogen levels and growth of breast cancer cells, many doctors have advised breast cancer survivors to avoid pregnancy. However, nearly all studies have found that pregnancy does not increase the risk of recurrence after successful treatment of breast cancer.

Women are advised to discuss their risk of recurrence with their doctors. In some cases, counseling can help women with the complex issues and uncertainties regarding motherhood and breast cancer survivorship.