Hi I have premission to post the following from a mom I have been helping 
online and on the phone.  Her child is 9 months old and she has issues with 
getting a breast biopsy while nursing.  She would rather wean naturally and doesn't 
want to wean prematurely if it is not really needed.  Thanks for any help in 
this matter, as I am stumped

"My questions concern getting a core needle biopsy (actually up to three in 
one breast) while breastfeeding - Are the risks of milk fistula, hematoma, 
infection high enough to warrant weaning from that side before the biopsy?  How 
long after the biopsy can I resume breastfeeding?  Here is my story:
 
I have no family history of breast cancer.  My first pregnancy at age 34, 
started menses at age 12.  I was on the pill for 3 years before pregnancy.  I 
have had one fibroadenoma removed from each breast at the age of 20 and 21.
 
Approx 7 months post-partum I had my first bout of mastitis in RUQ of right 
breast.  This resolved with antibiotics.  Approx 8 weeks later, I still felt 
residual nodularity in that area so that I asked my Internist who recommended a 
mammo.  The mammo showed some calcifications in the area of the previous 
mastitis and they weren't sure if the pattern of calcifications was concerning - 
("BIRAD 3/4a" was the category).  The ultrasound showed a 6mm nodule in a 
different area of the same breast which they thought was a lymph node (it had a 
fatty hilum).  They suggested a biopsy.  I was scheduled for the biopsy but got a 
second bout of mastitis in the same breast but slightly different area so that 
the biopsy was postponed.  The mastitis resolved, however after being on 
antibiotics for 7 days, I got a fever - 103 - without signs of recurrent 
mastitis.  I thought I might have a deep seated breast abscess so went to an ER where 
they confirmed no abscess (by ultrasound).  However, I ended up have a 
pneumonia and was in the hospital for a week.  My husband had been sick with a cough 
and slight fever the preceeding week and my daughter also ended up getting sick 
with a cough and fever while I was hospitalized.  I ended up having to be on 
Tequin which precluded me from breastfeeding for a total of 12 days (I pumped 
the whole time and my daughter had to go on formula).  After the Tequin was 
done, I resumed breastfeeding without problems.  Because of the second mastitis, 
the doctors thought I might be "high risk" and ordered an MRI of my breasts.  
I don't have the results yet.  The radiologist who was going to do the 
procedure didn't seem to know anything about breastfeeding.  She suggested that I 
stop breastfeeding for 5 days post-biospy.  When I suggested that this seemed 
like a long time and that pumping seemed more traumatic to my post-surgical 
breast than nursing, she asked whether I could just not pump or nurse for two 
days!?!?  I decided to delay the biopsy until I could get more information on core 
needle biopsies while lactating.  
Thanks for your help! Stephanie"

Thanks again 

Donna Kimick
Intern LC - 2 weeks and waiting :) 



     
  

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