Before I left on vacation 2 wks ago, I asked for info on chemotherapy and
nursing.  The mom discovered a lump just a couple weeks before the birth
of her first baby, and was anticipating surgery followed by chemo.

She's had her second surgery, to check nodes and remove a little more
breast tissue, and all tissue was clear.  In fact, she may not even need
chemo! :-D

She will, however, have radiation starting in 3 weeks.  Right now, her
problem is recovering from the surgery.  Her breast, she says, is huge and
hard.  So is the nipple.  Baby (now 1 month) nurses willingly on that
side, but she's been restricting her because increased nursing seems to
increase flow from the drain under her arm.  She's finished 7 days of
antibiotics, incisions look clear, but milky fluid continues to drain.

My phone suggestions:  Nurse preferentially on the "bad" side, as if treating
mastitis, rather than limiting nursing.  Use heat or cool, which ever
feels better.  (She's apparently tried cabbage, with no success).  Since
she can't wear a bra w/ the drain in place, but wants one to support the
melon that her breast has become, I suggested sacrificing a bra to the
cause and cutting out any sections that interfered w/ the drain.  Use
alternate massage to help move milk and/or fluids down and out.  Ask
surgeon if drain can be withdrawn slightly, rather than totally, to reduce
the amount of milk that flows through it.

Haven't seen her, and don't know exactly what the breast looks like.
Surgeon feels it's post-surgery trauma, but it's been a week...

So.  Any more thoughts on deflating a large, hurting, post-surgical
breast?  She says pumping and hand expression don't work.

Crossing my fingers that she can avoid chemo,
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, Ithaca NY.