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Breastfeeding safe after treatment?

Page last modified on: September 17, 2008

Question from Medtech: I was diagnosed with HER2-positive, stage II breast cancer 5 years ago. Went through chemotherapy, radiation, and Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) and have had no evidence of disease since the end of treatment. I'm now pregnant and overjoyed, but am worried about breastfeeding because of the treatment. Is it safe for me to breastfeed?: Answers —Kutluk Oktay, M.D.: There's no such evidence that breastfeeding after completing your cancer treatment would hurt the baby. And, in fact, it may have some mild preventative effect for future cancers.; Leslie Schover, Ph.D.: One thing that women may find interesting is that for a breast that has had lumpectomy and radiation, about a quarter of women are still able to get some breast milk on that side.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Fertility and Pregnancy. Kutluk Oktay, M.D. and Leslie Schover, Ph.D. answered your questions about breast cancer treatments that can affect your fertility, options for preserving your fertility, being treated for breast cancer while pregnant, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kutluk Oktay, M.D. is a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the director of the Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility at New York Medical College.

Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.

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