Dr. Hale,
Thanks so much for your prompt response.  I called the mother and discussed
your response and she does not want to take the risk of this drug getting to
her baby.  She is thankful for the help on this question.
At least we tried!
Thanks again,
Lori Salisbury, RN, IBCLC
(met you when you spoke at the conference in Couer d' Alene, ID where we
were selling your books)

-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Tom Hale
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 2/11/00 8:14 AM
Subject: Taxol

To : Lori
Re : Taxol

We do not know how much, if any, Taxol enters milk.  However, it does
have a
rather long half-life of 52 hours, and its volume of distribution is
huge,
suggesting that it might be stored in peripheral compartments and
released
over many days of time, thus it could produce low and sustained milk
levels.

On the other hand, its molecular weight is large and its plasma levels
rather low, which would suggest its ability to enter milk would be low.

So I cannot really suggest that it is safe to breastfeed after using
this
drug.  If the mom wanted to pump and dump for 10 days, then it would
probably be safe, but I'm not really sure of this.  Drugs with huge
Volumes
of Distribution tend to leach out of tissues for long periods.

We just don't have any set answer for this situation. Does the benefit
of
breastfeeding outweight the risk of this dangerous drug.   Its
questionable.

Sorry.

Tom Hale, PH.D.


PS: Lori, should this mom decide to try to breastfeed after receiving
this
drug,  I would like to have some milk samples during and after her
treatment.  We might could get the manufacturer to measure the milk
concentrations of Taxol.  So would you ask the mom if she would be
receptive
for this kind of study.

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