What's unusual about methotrexate and some of the other chemotherapy drugs
is their short half-lives *relative to the spacing of the doses*.  Where
most drugs are kept in a steady state in the mother's blood throughout
treatment, the whole idea with chemo is to hit hard, then let it dissipate,
let the person have a breather, then hit hard again.   Methotrexate's
half-life is 7.2 hours, according to Hale.  Five half-lives is 36 hours.
Throw in another for good measure and you're still talking less than two
days' bfing hiatus out of the three weeks or so between doses.

Mothers taking chemotherapy do *not* have to wean permanently, if they and
their babies are willing to deal with periodic brief suspensions.  This is
information the mothers deserve to have, whether or not they choose to make
use of it.

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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