Two cases of breast cancer in young women

Summaries of the two cases presented in the December issue (Eur J Surg Oncol 1995; 21: 666–8). Patient 1. A case of breast cancer arising during pregnancy, progressing rapidly with fungation despite induction chemotherapy. This 35-year-old woman who developed breast cancer in the 7th month of pregnancy had a Caesarian delivery, and chemotherapy started (mitozantrone as a single agent, followed by triple agent therapy). The tumour progressed rapidly to fungation during the 5-month period of chemotherapy, leading to consideration of what further treatment might be helpful. The clinical situation at this time is shown again in Fig. 1. Patient 2. A 32-year-old single woman, a professional violin player presented with Pagetʹs disease of the right nipple. Mammography showed typical changes of intraduct carcinoma in both breasts, without clear indication of invasive cancer. Two surgeons and a clinical oncologist give their assessments of the cases with a plan of management (without knowledge of the subsequent course of the patients), and this is followed with an account of the actual treatments used and the outcomes.