>The mother will have to wean when she goes through her treatment.  She gave
>her baby 6 months of her milk.  Now, her energy will be in fighting this
>disease.

Not sure if I missed an original message or not.  If her treatment is chemo,
and if meds with short half-lives are used, she can go through treatment
alternating weaning (for 5 half-lives, more if she's fearful) and nursing.
Chemo drugs have half-lives like any other drugs, often of 24 hours or less.
If she has the interest/strength to do some pumping during the "sick days",
she can resume nursing between chemo bouts.  Even if she doesn't pump, she
could nurse between bouts, possibly even with a tube at breast if needed,
and bring her supply up with ongoing nursing once chemo's over.

It was Ruth Lawrence who first pointed out that these drugs have a half-life
and don't require permanent weaning.  I'm sure mothers like to know they
have options.  Even if they *choose* to wean... it's a choice instead of
just one more form of lost control.
--
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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