What to know about nursing after breast cancer

People may be able to nurse after breast cancer treatment. However, these treatments may affect the structure of the breast and milk supply, which can hinder the ability to nurse.
The ability to nurse after breast cancer treatment can depend on the treatment people have.
People may be able to nurse from an unaffected side or wait until medications clear from the body. Others may need to use donor milk or formula if nursing is not possible.
Is it possible to chestfeed or breastfeed after breast cancer treatment?
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Many people will still be able to nurse after breast cancer treatment.
If people have undergone treatment affecting only one side, people may be able to nurse from the unaffected side. However, a person’s nursing capabilities after breast cancer treatment may depend on the type of treatments they undergo.
may be able to
For example, the American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that surgery and radiation therapy can reduce milk supply or alter the structure of the breast, making nursing painful. Additionally, the type of surgery and the position of the incision may affect the infant’s latching on and milk expression.
American Cancer Society (ACS)
may affect
Certain medications, such as hormone therapy, may enter the bloodstream and breast milk, which may be unsafe for a baby. It is important to talk with a doctor before starting to nurse after cancer treatment.
If people cannot produce breast milk, formula is widely available. Another option includes using donor breast milk from a milk bank that screens its donors and safely processes the milk.
formula
screens its donors
How long should a person wait after treatment?
The timing of nursing after treatment may depend on the type of treatment.
According to The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), people need to avoid chestfeeding or breastfeeding during chemotherapy, as it may harm an infant. However, people may be able to pause treatment to nurse in the immediate postpartum period before resuming chemotherapy.
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)
People will need to wait until chemotherapy clears from their bodies before nursing. This can depend on the particular drug’s half-life, which refers to the time it takes for a drug’s active ingredient to decrease by half. This may vary from 24 hours to up to 10 days.
Can breast cancer treatment affect milk supply?
Changes to the structure of the breast, for example, due to surgery or radiation, may affect the ducts and nerves involved in producing milk. Chemotherapy may reduce milk production in both breasts.
may affect
Galactagogues are substances in medications, herbs, and some foods that health experts believe increase milk production.
Many galactagogues are phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds with a similar structure to estrogen. People will need to avoid using galactagogues without first talking with a doctor.
are phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens may be safe to consume within the diet. However, excess consumption through supplements or herbal remedies may increase the risk of tumors or reduce the effectiveness of hormone therapy.
Certain medications, such as domperidone, promote the release of prolactin, the hormone involved in lactation. Experts advise against using these medications, as increased prolactin levels may increase the risk of breast cancer.
How cancer treatments affect chestfeeding or breastfeeding
The following outlines how breast cancer treatments may affect a person’s ability to nurse.
A lumpectomy can alter the breast and nipple, significantly reducing breast milk’s amount and quality. People may have some nipple pain and may choose to nurse from the unaffected side instead.
significantly reducing breast
A single or double mastectomy may affect the ability to nurse and may reduce milk supply. The removal of tissue and possible nerve damage in the breast can also affect lactation.
may affect
If people have a single mastectomy, they may be able to nurse from the unaffected breast. A partial mastectomy with radiation therapy may greatly reduce milk production in the affected breast.
After a mastectomy, if people experience any significant breast growth or milk production in the affected side, they will need to contact a doctor. This could indicate remaining breast tissue, which may be a risk for cancer.
could indicate
Radiation can cause permanent tissue changes and scar tissue, which may affect a person’s nursing ability. Other issues may include:
can cause
altered taste of breastmilk may prevent an infant from feeding
altered elasticity of the breast may cause difficulty latching on
If people have had radiation therapy to one breast, they may use the other breast for nursing.
Chemotherapy may reduce milk supply in both breasts. If people require chemotherapy in the postpartum period, breastmilk is not safe for an infant.
may reduce
Breastfeeding is not safe with aromatase inhibitors, which are drugs to treat breast cancer, while the safety of tamoxifen with breastfeeding is unknown.
is not safe
People will need to talk with a doctor about breastfeeding with hormone therapy. In some cases, they may be able to pause hormone therapy to breastfeed.
Tips for chest or breastfeeding after breast cancer treatment
Tips for nursing after breast cancer treatment include:
talking with a lactation specialist for advice and suggestions for certain feeding techniques
feeding from a person’s breast supplies enough milk for an infant to grow healthily but may require monitoring the infant’s weight gain
supplies enough milk
expressing milk, alongside breastfeeding, to help increase milk supply
Frequently asked questions
Pregnancy increases hormone levels, which certain breast cancers may be sensitive to. However, there appears to be no increased risk of cancer returning with pregnancy after effective treatment.
no increased risk
According to the ABM, research has found no increased risk of breast cancer recurring with breastfeeding.
ABM
Potential complications of nursing after breast cancer treatment may include:
may include
milk fistula, an atypical connection between a duct and the skin surface, following surgery
wound complications, such as infections after surgery
mastitis, an inflammation of breast tissue, which may occur with chemotherapy
There is no evidence to suggest breastmilk from someone with breast cancer is harmful to an infant.
no evidence
People need to talk with a doctor to check if it is safe to breastfeed with breast cancer treatments.
People may be able to breastfeed after breast and nipple surgery, but they may have a reduced milk supply.
may be able to
Individuals will not be able to produce enough milk in the affected side to nurse after a total mastectomy. A partial mastectomy and radiation therapy may reduce milk supply in the affected side.
not be able to
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that breastfeeding causes hormonal changes that delay the return of menstrual periods. This in turn reduces a person’s lifetime exposure to estrogen, which has associations with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Summary
People may be able to nurse after breast cancer treatment. However, their ability to do so can depend on the type of cancer treatment they receive.
Individuals may need to nurse from the unaffected side or wait until medications have cleared from the body.
It is important to talk with a doctor before starting to nurse after any cancer treatment.