On 7/29/97 Melissa wrote about the mom of an 18 mo. old w/ milk only in right
breast.  On 7/30 Jan replied:  "My guess is a variation of normal, but after
weaning I'd suggest she have a mammogram just to make sure."

Jan, I agree with you that this is probably normal.  If it is a breast the
baby doesn't prefer, then lack of stimulation could reinforce this by further
reducing the supply on that side.

What I don't understand is the need to wait for weaning (which for some of us
could be several years ;-)  before having a mammogram.  I understand about the
problems involved doing a mammogram during lactation...but if this breast
truly is not producing milk, then shouldn't she be able to have a mammogram on
just that side, to put her mind at ease?

I hope someone who knows will answer this for me.  I have fought twice for
mammograms WHILE lactating (I have a HORRIBLE family Hx of cancer).  One time
I was nursing a 4 year old about once/week.  In the end it had no effect on
the reading of the mammogram, but I had to be quite "assertive" (verging on
nasty) before they would do it.  (I also find it odd that among the myriad
pages of questions they ask, never have I been asked if I was lactating nor if
I had ever lactated!  I brought the subject up myself!)

Anyway, I just hate the thought of this mom waiting months, or years, if there
really is a problem.  Doesn't the absence of milk make the mammogram OK?
TIA
Diane DiSandro, BA, IBCLC
Audubon, PA--private practice