Breast Feeding and Breast Cancer

[AlexisPark]

Hi,

I am writing this thread to reach out to any fellow women who have had a history of breast cancer with or without radiotherapy and have been able to successfully breast feed.

I have had a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy on my one breast a while ago, Now that I am 20+ weeks pregnant I am worried, how would breast feeding turn out for me.
I am looking for advice on if someone has been in my situation and has been able to either breastfeed easily with one breast or if they had to switch to formula. If they did how did they know when to supplement breast milk with formula.

Also looking to understand if the breast that has been treated expected to be more in pain than in order one. I do get sharp pins and needles feeling on that breast almost throughout the day.

Would be very helpful if there are women out there how can share some experience and knowledge on this subject.

Thanks

I couldn't just scroll by, but I don't have direct experience so I'm sorry not to be more helpful. I know someone who was treated for breast cancer and still successfully breastfed - we're not that close so I don't know what her exact treatment was or how her bf journey went. I have another friend with no medical issues who successfully ebf on just one side because her daughter refused to feed on the other side (she said she was really lopsided but I never noticed!). At 4mpp I had to stop bf when I had I&D (incision and drainage) surgery to remove a breast abscess - they removed 200ml of infected fluid and it went right to my chest wall - still not as invasive as cancer surgery, but it took a month for the wound to fully heal and I got shooting pains for the next year and a half. I was treated by the local Macmillan nurses as I live on a small island (but not in their capacity as Macmillan nurses, as general breast nurses if that makes sense, they said that was an important distinction due to how they are funded!), and they said the shooting pains are related to how the scar tissue forms and changes. My surgeon said they have no idea how my supply on the 'bad' side will be affected until I try to bf again. I'm currently 37wks and I've been getting drops of colostrum on both sides; if my 'bad' side fails I'll feed on just one side: my health visitor said it's not that unusual, and ebf is still possible on one side, even following major surgery.

I don't know if that helps at all, but maybe approach your health visitor, a local lactation consultant, the National breastfeeding helpline or la Leche League for specialist advice? I really wish you well and every success!x

@AlexisPark ive no experience (yet) but I'm in the same boat. I've had a mastectomy so was assuming I'd have to do combination feeding. I was going to start pumping around 37 weeks to try and encourage some colostrum production. I think my pregnancies are a bit shorter (38 weeks) Anyway good luck and thank you for asking this question.