Hi all -

Got a mom who is an oncology nurse; is planning on returning to work and is
wondering whether she can resume her regular duties (they were not allowed
while she was pregnant).  Duties would include supervising patients
receiving radiation treatment, and giving patients chemotherapy treatment
(setting up the bags, no venipuncture).

This is a LLL question, so my answer to her is from LLL materials.  For my
own edification, I also checked Riordan and Auerbach, and Lawrence without
finding additional/contradictory information.  The Breastfeeding Answer Book
notes that radiation treatment doesn't make milk radioactive, but if her
breast(s) were directly exposed, this could affect her ability to make milk.
As long as she's comfortable with the idea of some exposure in general, this
seems to be compatible with nursing.

Chemo seems to be an exposure issue, and my (medically uneducated) thinking
is that just handling the bags would not provide sufficient exposure to be
an issue.  After all, the treatment isn't given topically but through an IV
- the most effective method of transfer is presumably into the bloodstream
then.  Correct? I understand that if she were being treated directly,
nursing would be contraindicated.

I have not been able to find specific information on secondhand exposure and
breastfeeding - any thoughts?  Any resources that I'm missing?

Thanks for your insights -

Morgan Kennedy Henderson
LLLL, IBCLC    Wellesley, MA   USA

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