Is breastfeeding possible after breast cancer?
Truth be told, breastfeeding can be challenging for any new mom, especially for mothers who are fighting breast cancer or have beaten breast cancer. The answer to the question is, yes, nursing after breast cancer is possible however, it depends on various factors including your cancer treatment and your medication.
> Impact of cancer treatments on breastfeeding
Each breast cancer case is unique. The nature of your treatment could dictate the possibility of successful breastfeeding. However, support from a doctor and an experienced lactation consultant is recommended.
1. Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is breast-conserving surgery. During a lumpectomy procedure, cancer or other abnormal tissue and a small amount of the healthy tissue that surrounds the lump in your breast are removed by a surgical procedure.
Lactation is safe and possible even after a lumpectomy or radiation. But the ability to produce milk from the impacted breast could be reduced.
Your ability to nurse successfully from the affected breast depends on various reasons such as the extent of surgery, the tissue loss during the procedures, and damage caused to the milk ducts and nerves in the breast due to the treatment.
If only one breast was treated for breast cancer, then the untreated breast may be able to produce enough milk to sustain your newborn.
2. Mastectomy
Mastectomy is a major surgery to treat or prevent breast cancer. It involves the permanent removal of one (Single Mastectomy) or both breasts (Double Mastectomy).
Nursing from the unaffected breast should be possible in the case of single mastectomy, however, lactation could be affected. With help of doctors or lactation experts breastfeeding is possible. In case of a double mastectomy, breastfeeding is not possible since both breasts including the milk ducts are removed.
3. Radiotherapy
Nursing is possible as at least 50% of patients are able to lactate even after radiotherapy. However, the quantity of milk produced gets affected as the radiation damages the breast tissue and milk ducts. Also, whether or not the milk is safe for consumption is correlated to the radiation dose used as biochemical changes are observed in breast milk post radiation treatment.
Breastfeeding in the contralateral breast is not affected if you are treated only on one breast and it is safe to nurse. However, we recommend consulting a doctor or your lactation consultant.
4. Chemotherapy
Not all women with breast cancer will need chemotherapy. It is used as the main treatment for those patients whose cancer has spread beyond breasts to other organs like the lungs and liver.
Chemo drugs for breast cancer are typically given into a vein (IV) under doctors’ observation. Chemotherapy can last for months, typically 3 to 6 months as is given in cycles followed by a rest for recovery.
Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not possible while undergoing chemotherapy as the drugs used for the therapy take weeks to leave your entire system. Some drugs even take months. It is advised to consult your oncologist to check if nursing is safe after chemo.
> Conclusion
If you are a new mom with breast cancer or have survived breast cancer and would like to breastfeed, work closely with your doctor to know how nursing would affect you and your baby.
Please do not feel guilty if you are unable to breastfeed your child due to breast cancer. Remember, the most important thing is that you’re here for your baby, and healthy to give your baby the love and care he/she requires.
Read this blog for the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer.