I got a call from a mother this evening ( incidently a GP) who is having a
thyroidectomy on Wednesday due to thyroid cancer.  She said it is medullary
cell carcinoma.  This mom is nursing a two and a half year old .  She is not
concerned about the fact that she will be taking Synthroid.

 What she is concerned about is that the medullary cell tumer is calcitonin
secreting tumor.  What I understand this to mean from this mom is that this
type of tumor affects calcium absorbtion in the bones.   Mom wants to know
if this hormone goes through the breast milk.  Is it possible that it has
gone through enough to have affected the baby.  She figures that the tumor
has been there for about 8 months.  Can this harm the baby?  How quickly
does this hormone goes  through the mother's milk and how much would be
condidered to be harmful.

Mom has cut back on feedings and will not nurse for the three days that she
expects to be in the hospital.  She will wean totaly if she doesn't have
evidence to convince her that it is safe to contue to nurse, though she
would like to continue to nurse untli the baby is ready to wean himself.

I know that this is unusual, but I can't think of a better place to find
information on strange and obscure breastfeeding problems/questions.
Thanks in Advance!  Nancy Sherwood IBCLC, LLLL- Perth, Australia