Mary Kay,

I recently worked with a mom in the same situation. She had thyroid cancer.
All the references say she must wean for a LONG period. Too long for a baby
to go back to the breast..ie, more than a month.
One of the reasons there is so little in archives, is that all of the
responses I got were private. I would encourage us to go public.
Mind you, this would not be the route every one SHOULD take, but this mom
investigated I-131 so thoroughly that she is NOT going to take it. Her baby
is 8 months old now.  Apparently, the type of cancer she had has a (fairly)
low reocurrance and does not (usually) spread. She called the radiation
studies division @ CDC and talked to a Doctor (pediatrician) that is
breastfeeding  and in my Sanvita program.  She also called a Mercer
Pharmacy school instructor who is nursing a 3 year old and a Lactnetter.
She read every thing she could find.
Currently, SHE feels comfortable with her decision not to take the 1-131.
However, she is on various herbs, vitamins, a very healthy diet and is
really working on keeping herself healthy. That is a very important point.
I am the one that started this whole conversation about "it is really
necessary" and she took it on.  She understands that she is responsible for
her decision, I just helped her find resources. SHe grew up over this whole
thing. I call that "breastfeeding empowering a woman."  I would be glad to
forward the e-mails I have on the subject.
Patti Carroll, RN, IBCLC
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