Comments on: Breast Cancer and the Breastfeeding Woman http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/ Breastfeeding 1-2-3: A Blog for Breastfeeding Tips and Support Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:59:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2889 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:41:00 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2889 Tracy, I was so happy to hear from you, and with such a good report! I hope things just keep getting better and better from here on out. I love the story of your daughter covering your breast to guard it :) Please keep me posted on your progress! Tracy, I was so happy to hear from you, and with such a good report! I hope things just keep getting better and better from here on out.

I love the story of your daughter covering your breast to guard it :)

Please keep me posted on your progress!

]]> By: lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2391 lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:34:50 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2391 Hi Angela ! So far I see no hole just some let down in milk. I'm keeping it really dry. I go back to the Dr. soon. Your words are very comforting. I took a weekend to see my mom to take my mind of my breast and it was a well needed break. I'm not letting this get me down anymore as long as my baby is getting what she needs. She covers my breast with her lil' arm and guards it to make sure that I'm not going to take it away from her when it's feeding time...it's so cute! Hope all is well and thanks again. Sorry I'm such a bother! LOL Hi Angela ! So far I see no hole just some let down in milk. I’m keeping it really dry. I go back to the Dr. soon. Your words are very comforting. I took a weekend to see my mom to take my mind of my breast and it was a well needed break. I’m not letting this get me down anymore as long as my baby is getting what she needs. She covers my breast with her lil’ arm and guards it to make sure that I’m not going to take it away from her when it’s feeding time…it’s so cute! Hope all is well and thanks again. Sorry I’m such a bother! LOL

]]> By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2700 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:23:07 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2700 Hi Tracy. When the surgeon pressed on the breast it probably did not leak milk because your milk did not letdown at that time, but nursing in the meantime caused milk to flow through those ducts. I'm not surprised the hole is still leaking. My impression is that staples or stitches just hold the sides closed until the wound heals, and do not seal it closed. As you say, the surgeon said it might leak. It's a good sign that he told you to let the milk leak and that it would heal on its own. All the information said to keep the dressing relatively dry. That is an issue to raise with the surgeon who said to leave the patch on for several days. Hi Tracy. When the surgeon pressed on the breast it probably did not leak milk because your milk did not letdown at that time, but nursing in the meantime caused milk to flow through those ducts. I’m not surprised the hole is still leaking. My impression is that staples or stitches just hold the sides closed until the wound heals, and do not seal it closed. As you say, the surgeon said it might leak. It’s a good sign that he told you to let the milk leak and that it would heal on its own.

All the information said to keep the dressing relatively dry. That is an issue to raise with the surgeon who said to leave the patch on for several days.

]]> By: lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2689 lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:40:25 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2689 Hi Angela! I went to my surgeon today at 4 pm. He used 3 or 4 staples to close the hole. He pressed on my breast all around the staples...no milk. He then put a large clear bandaid patch over my whole breast and told me to leave the patch on for several days. I just now went to the bathroom and looked at the patch ( without taking it off ) and the bottom half and the sides of it is filling up with fluid ( probably breastmilk ) also I see some blood around the edges and in the mix of it too, kinda bright looking & making the pad squishy. He also said if milk started to leak...let it leak that it would heal on it's own. But staples today...wouldn't that have held? Why is my bandage saturated in blood and breastmilk? He said not to take it off for several days but I feel it getting wet under bandage...should this be normal? Hi Angela! I went to my surgeon today at 4 pm. He used 3 or 4 staples to close the hole. He pressed on my breast all around the staples…no milk. He then put a large clear bandaid patch over my whole breast and told me to leave the patch on for several days. I just now went to the bathroom and looked at the patch ( without taking it off ) and the bottom half and the sides of it is filling up with fluid ( probably breastmilk ) also I see some blood around the edges and in the mix of it too, kinda bright looking & making the pad squishy. He also said if milk started to leak…let it leak that it would heal on it’s own. But staples today…wouldn’t that have held? Why is my bandage saturated in blood and breastmilk? He said not to take it off for several days but I feel it getting wet under bandage…should this be normal?

]]> By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2654 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:46:42 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2654 I know it is so frustrating and worrisome to you when the hole won't heal. Perhaps it would help ease your mind to take all the information to the doctor and ask for medical advice? It seems you have not had luck with stitches and they certainly could leak again, and that the doctor might be able to go over the information, agree to a plan to dress the wound with gauze, and show you how to do that properly. Keep us posted! I know it is so frustrating and worrisome to you when the hole won’t heal. Perhaps it would help ease your mind to take all the information to the doctor and ask for medical advice? It seems you have not had luck with stitches and they certainly could leak again, and that the doctor might be able to go over the information, agree to a plan to dress the wound with gauze, and show you how to do that properly. Keep us posted!

]]> By: lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2638 lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:26:39 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2638 Angela. The hole is the size of a very large qtip. Is it possible that it can heal like this or to have more stitches? I'm scared if I go to the Dr. it's going to be A complete disapointment 4 days later when It leaks again and burst open. Do you happen to have any info about that as well? I read the info you gave me about keeping it closed as much as possible, etc. Will this still work with a hole this size? Your words are very comforting to hear. Thanks again. Angela. The hole is the size of a very large qtip. Is it possible that it can heal like this or to have more stitches? I’m scared if I go to the Dr. it’s going to be A complete disapointment 4 days later when It leaks again and burst open. Do you happen to have any info about that as well? I read the info you gave me about keeping it closed as much as possible, etc. Will this still work with a hole this size? Your words are very comforting to hear. Thanks again.

]]> By: lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2637 lumpectomy sutures won't heal while breastfeeding? Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:09:27 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2637 Oh thank you! This helps so very much! I feel much better now knowing that there is info out there and that I am not the only case in the world like this. Once again thanks for your time and help. It means so much! Oh thank you! This helps so very much! I feel much better now knowing that there is info out there and that I am not the only case in the world like this. Once again thanks for your time and help. It means so much!

]]> By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2634 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:47:52 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2634 Here is a follow-up post with a discussion of how to heal from a lumpectomy or surgery for a breast abscess on a lactating breast: http://www.breastfeeding123.com/leaking-breast-milk-after-surgery-for-breast-abscess-or-lumpectomy/ Here is a follow-up post with a discussion of how to heal from a lumpectomy or surgery for a breast abscess on a lactating breast:

http://www.breastfeeding123.com/leaking-breast-milk-after-surgery-for-breast-abscess-or-lumpectomy/

]]> By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-1735 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:08:15 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-1735 Hi Tracy, I sent you an email to follow up. Let me know if you did not get it! Hi Tracy,

I sent you an email to follow up. Let me know if you did not get it!

]]> By: Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-2327 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:11:43 +0000 http://www.breastfeeding123.com/breast-cancer-and-the-breastfeeding-woman/#comment-2327 Tracy, I'm glad you got back to me. I am in the process of asking around for more information and will get back to you as soon as I hear anything. In the meantime, you can certainly continue to breastfeed on the other side (see http://www.breastfeeding123.com/one-sided-nursing-with-full-supply/). Your milk supply will increase on that side the more you nurse, and it is possible to develop a full milk supply on one side. As for the lumpectomy site, keep in mind that breast milk has antibacterial and other healing properties. I know you are concerned about the leakage interfering with healing though, and I hope to have more information for you soon. Hang in there! Tracy, I’m glad you got back to me. I am in the process of asking around for more information and will get back to you as soon as I hear anything. In the meantime, you can certainly continue to breastfeed on the other side (see http://www.breastfeeding123.com/one-sided-nursing-with-full-supply/). Your milk supply will increase on that side the more you nurse, and it is possible to develop a full milk supply on one side.

As for the lumpectomy site, keep in mind that breast milk has antibacterial and other healing properties. I know you are concerned about the leakage interfering with healing though, and I hope to have more information for you soon. Hang in there!

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