Can I Breastfeed while diagnosed with Cancer?
Cancer does not mean that you cannot breastfeed or that you need to stop breastfeeding as babies cannot contract cancer through your breast milk and there are many cancer treatments compatible with your desire to breastfeed your child.
Depending on your level of determination you can even continue breastfeeding despite biopsies and other more involved surgeries. However there are treatments that will affect your breast milk or will affect your child through your breast milk. When it comes to the combination of cancer and breastfeeding be sure to involve your doctor early on letting them know your desire.
If your cancer treatment involves chemotherapy or radioactive compounds you must wean your child until your body is free of these substances. This is because radioactive substances may take weeks or months to leave your body and that chemotherapy medication is among the most toxic drugs used. They can enter your breast milk and even a tiny amount can be harmful to your child.
If your goal is to resume breastfeeding after the cancer is beaten then you should pump your breast milk and then dispose of it until your doctor lets you know it is safe to resume breastfeeding,
