Yes, Jane, women can and do breastfeed successfully from one breast after  
breast cancer.  First and foremost, empower her to do so.  I've worked  with 
a couple of women who had only one functioning breast, one post cancer and  
one post multiple biopsies.  Both did fine and both had me visit to help  
them optimize latch knowing they only had one breast to work with and they  
didn't want to have nipple damage affecting the one breast.  Baby may  
breastfeed more often in the beginning and I always encouraged use of the  
affected breast too, as possible, so that that breast's remaining breast tissue  
could be cleaned out so to speak.  Both moms used their affected breast in  
the beginning but within a few weeks or so baby decided it wasn't worth the  
effort.
 
It may also depend on what treatment was used on the affected breast,  
whether surgery (more possibility of recanalization occurring) or radiation,  
less likely cells produce milk.  The breast cancer survivor mom I worked  with 
did have radiation but still had some small amount of milk available  
initially.  Both moms nursed their babies for over 2 yr, happily and most  
proudly.  Hope this helps.
 
Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC

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