I just received a phone call about a mother who had her thyroid removed due
to cancer.  There was one lymph node involved (the one in the center of the
gland, I'm told).  The proposed treatment is to give her Iodine 131 to kill
any remaining thryoid cells.  She has been told that I-131 is stored in fatty
tissue and that the lactating breast would absorb more radiation which would
increase her risk of subsequent breast cancer. (They suggested permanent
weaning prior to the therapy)  She does not want to permanently wean.  She
has been told that she must wean for at least 4 months if she does not
permanently wean.  Another reference was found that stated 3-4 weeks.
 Someone else has suggested that when the milk scans "clear" that it is OK
for her to resume breastfeeding.

I am clueless about this!!!

The questions are

1. Will diagnostic or therapeutic radiation increase the risk of breast
cancer in the future if the breast is lactating (pumped and dumped)?

2. What criteria best determine when the milk would be "safe" for the baby?

TIA (Thanks in advance)

Martha Brower (Queen Clueless)