In Lviv, doctors at St Panteleimon Hospital of the First Medical Association of Lviv carried out a complex operation on a patient who was 31 weeks pregnant, removing a breast tumour while preserving the pregnancy.
Lviv resident Iryna Burdo, who was expecting her first child, noticed a lump in her breast at 26 weeks of pregnancy. After seeking medical help, she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Examination showed that it was a hormone-dependent tumour whose growth was being accelerated by the pregnancy.
According to oncological surgeon and breast specialist at St Panteleimon Hospital Artem Fedosov, during pregnancy a woman’s body produces a large amount of hormones, which stimulated the tumour’s growth. Because of this, the doctors had to act quickly, while being unable to use some diagnostic methods and contrast agents so as not to harm the baby.
The specialists decided on urgent surgical intervention. When Iryna reached 31 weeks of pregnancy, the tumour was removed. A total of 12 doctors were involved in the operation, including oncological surgeons, anaesthetists, obstetrician-gynaecologists and neonatologists, as there was a risk of complications for the baby.
The operation was successful: the doctors were able to completely remove the malignant tumour, preserve the breast and prevent the onset of labour. The baby’s condition remained satisfactory after the procedure. Iryna says that the expectation of meeting her son and faith in a successful outcome gave her the strength to recover.
At 36 weeks of pregnancy, the patient gave birth to her first child. The baby is now eight months old. After the birth, Iryna underwent further examinations, which showed that the disease had not spread through her body, and she is currently in remission, notes Artem Fedosov.
The First Medical Association of Lviv provides modern medical care, including diagnostics, treatment, surgical interventions, rehabilitation and prosthetics, in particular for patients in severe conditions and after complex injuries.