I have been contacted by a mother whose first baby, now about 2 weeks old, was diagnosed at birth with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  The mother was informed that the chemotherapy drugs the baby was given could be absorbed through contact with the patient's bodily fluids, including saliva.  She wonders if it is possible for her to absorb enough of the chemo drugs while breastfeeding to cause damage to her own health, especially since a baby so young is likely to breastfeeding many times in a 24-hour period.  

I am in contact with several other mother who are breastfeeding toddlers with leukemia (through a national pediatric cancer support group) who wonder the same thing (but have decided to continue breastfeeding regardless of the risk to themselves).  The question comes for them not only whether absorption through the saliva through breastfeeding can endanger their own health (most have been advised to wear masks and gloves at home when preparing the oral chemo drugs they administer at home over the course of 3 years of treatment), but also the question of possible danger to an unborn sibling, should the mother become pregnant during the lengthy course of the child's treatment with chemo drugs.  

Because breastfeeding toddlers are relatively rare, as are diagnoses of pediatric cancer, most of the oncologists these mothers are dealing with do not have any evidence or information beyond speculation.  Also, most oncologists are not well-informed about breastfeeding in general.  But for the breastfeeding mothers of cancer-stricken children, preserving the breastfeeding relationship can seem a life-and-death endeavor.

Thanks for any help finding a good direction to answer this question.

Pam Pilch, JD
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator

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