Sandra wrote <The larger goal is to see if there are links between
industrial
chemicals and an array of ailments in human beings. In part because
chemicals often accumulate in the fatty tissue of breasts, as well as
breast milk, biomonitoring has won particular support from breast-cancer
advocacy groups, despite Breast Cancer Action's reservations.>

I believe she also wrote an earlier post explaining that examining
excised fatty tissue and examining breastmilk are the only two possible
ways of monitoring chemicals that are store in fat. (I wish someone with
recognized credibility and "pull" with the media would write a media
article about that fact alone.) That point helped my understanding
immensely, and helps in my explanation to any mothers who misinterpret
misleading information hyped in media headlines, which mothers often take
to mean that breastfeeding must therefore be dangerous.

I wonder if any research is in progress to examine excised fatty tissue
from breasts that have been surgically removed for some form of breast
disease?? That would add another interesting dimension to the research
results, since the individual tissue levels could be correlated with the
individual's reproductive history and specific disease in the breast of
that particular woman at that particular stage in her reproductive life.

I find it fascinating to know that the original size of the nulligravida
breast is in large part due to fatty tissue. (Would the entertainment
media dare hype that???) As I understand it, each menstrual cycle
produces a slight further development of glandular tissue. When pregnancy
occurs, fat cells (or fat in individual cells) are gradually removed (to
make room?) during the process of further development of glandular tissue
in early pregnancy. After early interruption of pregnancy (as in either
spontaneous or medical abortion), or normal birth and subsequent
weaning/involution of the breast, whenever it occurs, as glandular tissue
involutes, fat is again stored in the breast to at least partially
maintain the general size and contour.
Russo J, lRusso IH Development of the Human Mammary Gland in: The Mammary
Gland, Development, Regulation, and Function ed. by Neville MC, Daniels
CW 1987 Plenum Press, NY. pp 67-93.
So the fat in the cells of the breast at age 15, 25, 35, 45 etc. would
not necessarily be the same fat molecules, nor contain the same amounts
of chemicals in the same woman. Perhaps that itself might figure into
possible statistical differences in premenopausal breast cancer between
those who have never been pregnant, those who have been pregnant and how
many times, but not nursed, and those who have nursed long-term.

Jean
************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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