While the concept of lymphatic breast drainage may be a useful one in our
practice, I am wondering what effect it would have in a mother with
undiagnosed breast cancer. I am recalling a telephone call from a lactation
consultant describing a mother who had been treated for mastitis for three
months. Her breast was swollen, red, and tender. The baby would only nurse
for short periods of time on it. After failing to resolve following multiple
course of antibiotics, I was called for suggestions. The first one I gave was
to have the breast imaged. After imaging and biopsy, the diagnosis was
inflammatory breast cancer. The mother had not been seen during the three
months of antibiotic treatment.

If someone had done lymphatic breast drainage on this breast would cancer
cells have been forced into the lymph system?

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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