Christina,
I don't know about the chemo, but it is the radiation that can compromise
milk making ability. It stands to reason that because chemo kills cells (and
my understanding is that it kills rapidly growing cells especially) that it
could kill off some milk making cells in the breast. Don't forget that when
the body is fighting a challenge, it can divert some of its energy to
fighting and take away some of its energy and resources from other
functions. So theoretically, resources could be diverted from the breast. I
don't have a resource or ref here with me at home, but I beleive this info
would be in a good lactation text like Ruth Lawrence's BF A Guide for the
Medical Profession book.

If I were the mother, I would want all the information shared with me. I
would share it with mother something like this, "Some mothers experience a
drop in their milk supply during or after radiation treatment. There is no
way to tell how you will respond. We'll keep an eye on it and react if we
need to."

Hope this helps.
Laurie
On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 10:42 AM, hris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Thank you for your reply and encouragement, Laurie - I feel quite insecure
> in such difficult situations, but I am really trying to do my best to
> support the mothers who seek help (and to learn something from every
> mother's experience I have the honour to share in my role as bf helper).
>
> Your post answers one of mom's worries - she says her breasts stopped
> feeling full and "working" after the first round of chemo and they remain
> the same since. Could you please point me out to some information about the
> effect of the chemo on the milk-producing ability - it will be very useful.
>
> And do you think it is helpful to share this information with the mother
> now, so she is prepared - or just to talk about how there might be
> challenges without mentioning this possibility, so she does not enter her bf
> experience with a mind set for failure?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Christina Yaneva
> BF Peer Councellor
> Bulgaria
>
> --- On Tue, 1/19/10, laurie wheeler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > From: laurie wheeler <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Hodgkin's disease
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Cc: "LACTNET" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 6:27 PM
>  > Christina,
> > I think you are doing a fine job helping this mother.
> > You have done the research and have helped mother find the
> > answers to her questions so far, and you are giving her
> > emotional support and encouragement. Well done! I think if
> > you continue to help her find answers as challenges arise,
> > that is what she needs most. Of course, if you don't
> > know the answer, say so. And seek out resources that might
> > have the answers.
> >
> >
> > My understanding is that the radiation therapy is not
> > harmful to the infant, but it can adversely affect the milk
> > production capability, and this can be permanent. But it
> > seems mother will be able to breastfeed and since her
> > history is one of good supply, this might not be a problem.
> >
> >
> >
> > I think one of the most important things will be
> > mother's LONG TERM health and survival. Therefore, she
> > should be helped to eat and sleep well, and to have low
> > stress; so bringing in family and friends and/or healthcare
> > system might be needed.
> >
> > Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
> > Mississippi USA
> >
>
>
>
>

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