With regard to Betsy Ayers excellant Tip Sheet for Breastfeeding Mothers
on the med/surg floor It occurred to me that when helping such mothers,
the question of radioactive treatment / diagnostics might crop up. I
remember this question came up some time last year but I don't know if
there was a definitive answer. And I can't seem to find the post in the
archives. I am looking at a post by Dr Hale from 1997 regarding
fludeoxyglucose.
   --- Dr Hale wrote: "The radioactive ion 18F has a half life of 110
minutes.  I would recommend to pump and discard milk after the procedure
to reduce radioactive exposure of the breast tissue..." -----

I understand the rational for emptying the milk from the breast but rather
than dump the milk, wouldn't it be safe to store it and use it after 12 -
24 hours when the radioactivity has completly decayed away?
Thanks
Cathy Loughman RN IBCLC


Item #26009 (14 Jan 1997 08:39) - Fludeoxyglucose
Fludeoxyglucose is an analog of glucose that enters most all tissues of the
body according to their metabolic rate. The radioactive ion 18(F), has a
half-life of 110 minutes. It would undoubtedly enter breast milk.

I would recommend to pump and discard milk after the procedure to reduce
radioactive exposure of the breast tissue. The manufacturer recommends
routine bladder emptying for the same reason. According to the USPDI(1982)
the mother should wait 12-24 hours before breastfeeding her infant. In 9
hours, 97% of the isotope will be decayed away. Were the mother to pump
and dump for 12 hours, and then feed her infant, certainly most all of the
radioactive fluoride would be gone.

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