Breastfeeding while diagnosed with cancer

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer or any other type  cancer that needs to be removed immediately, treatment may affect your ability to breastfeed.

You may also have concerns if you were treated with radiation to the breast or chemotherapy in the past. You may worry that it may have damaged your glands or duct or affect your ability to breastfeed.

Can i breastfeed ?

Ongoing  treatment : It may be safe to breastfeed if you are undergoing diagnostic tests such as mammogram, x-ray, CAT scan, MRI , ultrasound and biopsy.

However if you are undergoing radioactive isotope therapy or chemotherapy, you have to wait until the radioactive elements or medications are completely gone from the body before starting to breastfeed.

You can nurse if you are undergoing radiation. However it will limit milk production in the affected breast. Cancerous cells wont be able to get to your baby through breastmilk.

Past history of cancer :If you have a past history of cancer, talk to your provider about how long it will take the chemotherapy medication and other drugs to leave your body. Once they are gone, you can start breastfeeding.

What do i do ?

You should never postpone surgery or treatment in order to nurse your baby. It may put your life in danger. You should instead talk to your doctor about feeding options that are safe . In some cases, you may be able to breastfeed with the unaffected breast. You can also consider pumping and dumping which is pumping the breast milk to keep the supply going and throwing it away  until the milk is safe to use.