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)