Robyn reported ... "    I posted a question about a mother who had a solid
breast
that did not settle with heat massage etc. She then decided to only feed on
the other breast and still this affected breast remained solid. I had 3
replies to my question suggesting the problem was an invasive type cancer. I
immediately contacted her doctor who referred her the next morning to a
surgeon who did a needle biopsy. The invasive cancer was confirmed that
afternoon and she was in conference by evening with an oncologist. I regret
to say her prognosis is poor, she has about a 20% chance of surviving 5
years. The cancer has apparently been there since before she was pregnant.
SHe is now weaning her baby, having cat scans etc and will commence
chemotherapy next Monday.
THis has been a shock for me, it never occured to me it could be a cancer.
Thanks for the help, you input triggered a very fast reponse from her
doctor. Regards Robyn Dunning RN,RM,IBCLC"

Friends, this is an example of a very sad situation in which the mother
should have had a breast exam during her pregnancy.  Her situation could
have been caught well before this point, and it is a lucky thing that the
mother had a wise LC who knew enough to bounce ideas off of others in order
to detect a cause of a problem.

It is also an example of a shocking situation,  and is hard for all of us to
read about.  However, in this case, and in many others, I am sure,  Lactnet
appears to have  played an important part of helping this mother get the
fastest treatment possible.


 In recent times, I have heard some very sharp criticism of Lactnet.  I want
to say that  I am proud to work with this list, with you all, and to help
make something tick that reaches  mothers that I will never meet in my
lifetime.  You all play a part in this too, so if we digress occasionally
and talk about chocolate, maybe that is not such a damnable offense.  Eh?

Proud to be associated with you all.

Kathleen

Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,TLC, Indep. Consultant
Williston, Vermont
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