I have been waiting until the conferences were over to ask this, so that lots of experts will read the question. A mother at a recent LLL meeting in our town asked if there were any guidelines available for doing breast delf-examinations while lactating. Many mothers at our meetings are concerned, since they are in the "older" mother category. And as we all know, though lactating cuts one's risk of breast cancer, it does not eliminate it. So, with the ever-changing texture and size of lactating breasts, what types of lumps or other symptoms are normal, and what should women be concerned enough about to bring to their phycisian's attention? Should women continue to do self examinations while lactating or is it not worth the trouble? (I brought this up a couple of times to people I thought would know at the LLLI convention, but all they said was "good question!" I also suggested it as a topic for one of the LLL magazines. I didn't get a chance to talk to Chele Marmet, who people thought might have the most insight--I only barely said hello to her!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sue Ann Kendall, mother of two small boys, editor, La Leche League Leader, Prairienet Publications Committee Head, E. Central Ill. Breastfeeding Promotion Task Force Chair, 1995-6 [log in to unmask] http://www.prairienet.org/~sak http://www.prairienet.org/community/health/laleche/homepage.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------