From 9 Oct NY Times, in an article on breast cancer (not a murmur about breastfeeding, sigh)

"The breast is something of an orphan in our health care system. We have cardiologists, nephrologists, hepatologists, proctologists and neurologists - but we have no "mammologists." How did the breast get lost?

"To answer this question we need to look at the division of labor in medicine and the history of specialization."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/opinion/10DeVries.html?th&emc=th

Not sure if the article DID answer the question or merely outline the problem, but it sure left out the role of lactation specialists.  

The lactating breast uses up more resting energy than the brain:  30% vs 23% according to Peter Hartmann in the Textbook of Human Lactation, pg 13 - an interesting essay on the inter-relatedness of lactation and of the brain in human development and evolution.  Prof Hartmann talks about the "stark difference in the medical appreciation of the two organs.....for example, tens of thousands of scientists attend annual neuroscience research conferences, whereas less than two hundred scientists attend the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation conference held every other year."

No, he didn't have any suggestions for improvement either.

Imagine the functions of a true "mammologist"....breast health from cradle to grave in the hands of one specialty.  Is it possible?  Is it necessary?  Is it more necessary to keep breast advice OUT of the hands of certain health practitioners who don't care to know enough about lactation not to sabotage it?

Jacquie Nutt IBCLC
Wellington, South Africa

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