Hi,

I am a La Leche League Leader (and PL) and the son of a fellow leader was diagnosed recently with a cancer. (PTP) 

He has a tumor in his abdomen and he is going throught chemotherapy. He will propably have an autologous bone marrow transplantation. So, the medical staff informed the mother that she will have to stop breastfeeding for a couple of weeks after the transplantation. From what we understand, this is necessary because her son will be immunocompromised and will need sterile food.

Needless to say that this mother is devastated and wish she could continue nursing his son when he need it so much. We were wondering if this weaning is really necessary. We understand that breastmilk is not sterile but it also contains a lot of microbicidal molecules. For now, the only option we see is expressing and then pasteurizing her milk (like in milk banking).

Any output from you all would be appreciated.

Thank you

Kathleen Couillard, M. sc
La Leche League Leader, PL

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