Hi, Brenda,
A partial mastectomy with the nipple intact is not the same as a complete
mastectomy.  The first is a wide excision or quadrentectomy.  the second
removes the entire mammary gland and supporting tissues and the nipple and
areola.  She may not be able to produce a full milk supply, but she most
certainly can breastfeed on that side if the nipple was left intact and if
she didn't have scarring from radiation.  She may need to have some scar
release done if there is extensive scarring from the procedure (a competent
physical therapist can do it--try to find one experienced in myofascial
release).   Lucky woman and lucky baby!  She'll still need to have a regular
mammogram and/or ultrasound on that breast while she's lactating if she
breastfeeds for the normal amount of time.  It would be very difficult to
use a nursing suplementer on a reconstructed breast because there would be
no elasticity in a reconstructed nipple/areola (unless grafted from the
other nipple/areola, which is sometimes done in women with very large
nipples).  Many women unfortunately don't know what type of surgery has been
performed on their breasts.  One client told me she had a bilateral
mastectomy when what she really had was a bilateral breast reduction.  Your
client could always get a copy of her surgical report.
Linda Anderegg, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, RLC in Chicago, 8 year mastectomee
 
  

<<I had a visit from a multip today - she is 28 weeks pregnant with her 5th=
child,=20 and had a double mastectomy 6 years ago. One breast was a
complete=20 mastectomy, but on the other breast a partial mastectomy was
completed,=20=

with the nipple tissue left intact. Mother reports axillary swelling and = a
milky=20 discharge from her nipples, which she believes is milk. She
reported this= to her=20 doctor, and was told that sometimes the ducts can
recanalize and that mil= k=20 can actually flow from the breast again.

Since I have never in all my years as an LC seen this, I am wondering if=20=

anyone else can contribute about this, and let me know if there has ever =
been=20 a case in which a mother with a mastectomy went on to breastfeed,
even=20=

partially. I just don't see how the ducts could grow back efficiently enou=
gh for=20 this to occur.

Thank you!

Brenda Phipps, BS, IBCLC>>


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