Dear All,

I saw a new mother who had Hodgkin's Disease about 10 yrs. ago.  She had had
radiation to her chest at the time and had been told that her breasts/ability
to breastfeed in the future would not be damaged.

She has a 15 day old baby who lost weight, gained some back but is now 6 oz.
below birthweight.  She is breastfeeding constantly but never seems
satisfied.  She looks alert and vigorous but extremely skinny.  Her stools
are bright bright green - quite a beautiful color but not the usual
greeny-brownish.

The mother is going back to the pediatrician today for a weight check and
will call me later.  She is wondering if the baby is just getting foremilk so
is attempting to feed on one side for a longer time.  The baby appears to
latch-on well and to suck well.

My question is what effect could the radiation have had?  I have references
to radiation to the breast for breast cancer, but no general ones.  Have any
of you had experience with this?  Could she have lost glandular tissue to the
radiation or suffered other damage?  She did have breast changes/growth in
pregnancy and milk was dripping from her breasts yesterday.

Thank you,

Janaki Costello, IBCLC, CCE, CD, LLLL in El Cerrito where the heat wave is
over!