~ If you are breastfeeding and scheduled for a breast biopsy, you could participate in a groundbreaking research study. Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog explains how “when you make milk, cells from your milk ducts are exfoliated off in the process. These are called epithelial cells, and they’re detectable in your milk. Past research has demonstrated that long before we notice a lump, those epithelial cells start changing in ways that are precursors to the development of breast cancer.” If you participate in the study at no cost to you, your milk sample could help in the development of a non-invasive means of determining breast cancer risk through breast milk.

~ The Health and Wellness Channel here at b5media features its own blog dedicated to breast cancer awareness written by Karen Lynch. To celebrate BCAM, Karen is running a prize giveaway every day this month! Check out Pink Ribbon Review for your chance to win!

~ Boob Maternity and Nursing sells a “Boob Think Pink” nursing top for CDN $65 at Milkface.com. Three Euros from the sale of each tee goes toward breast cancer research.

~ Breastfeeding 1-2-3 features several articles on breastfeeding and breast cancer:

~ Leaking Breast Milk after Surgery for Breast Abscess or Lumpectomy
~ Breast Self-Exams in Lactating Women
~ Video Demonstration of Breast Self-Exam
~ Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk
~ Breast Cancer Testing: X-rays, Mammograms, Ultrasounds, Cat Scans
~ Breastfeeding after Chemotherapy, Radiation and Lumpectomy
~ Breastfeeding Reduces Cancer Risk
~ One-Sided Nursing with Full Supply

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

As always, consult your doctor with respect to medical issues. This disclaimer is particularly important with respect to breast health, given both the seriousness of breast cancer and the current debate over the merit of breast self-exams. While traditionally the recommendation has been for monthly breast self-exams starting at age 20, recent studies have questioned whether breast self-exams reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer. Consequently, the American Cancer Society has changed its recommendation to state that breast self-exams are merely an option available to women, and that the exams have benefits as well as limitations.

If a woman chooses to perform a self-exam, it should be performed when her breasts are not tender or swollen. For most women that means the exam should be performed three to seven days after a woman’s menstrual period has ended. For lactating women (who may or may not have a menstrual cycle) it also means that the exam should be performed after a nursing session when the breasts are least full of milk.

While a lump in the breast is the most common sign of breast cancer, it’s important to keep in mind that there are many other potential causes for breast lumps such as fibrocystic changes, trauma or calcifications (making it all the more important to have any breast changes or warning signs evaluated by a doctor). For lactating women, there are two additional potential causes for breast lumps: mastitis or milk cysts. Mastitis is a breast infection that if not treated properly can turn into an abscess. Milk cysts, also known as galactoceles, are sacs filled with milk.

Ultimately the question of whether to perform a breast self-exam is left up to the individual woman. The goal is for a woman to be familiar with how her breasts normally look and feel so that she may seek medical advice upon noticing any changes. 

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3