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Topic: Question For Those Breastfeeding Near Time of Diagnosis...

Forum: Young With Breast Cancer —

Connect with those under 40 who have been diagnosed.

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Posted on: Jan 11, 2019 06:35PM

Lexica wrote:

Just curious if any others experienced difficulty breastfeeding or low milk supply before diagnosis. I had low milk supply with both children (diagnosed 2 years after second child was born). I exclusively pumped for 6 months with my first because she had latch issues. Had clogged ducts with the first, but not the second. Just low milk supply for both. Any others with similar experiences? I know it's likely a fruitless endeavor, but I'm still looking for a why to all of this - or at least a contributing factor.

Diagnosed at 34. 2 years of Ibrance via PALLAS trial (ends 4/2020) Dx 7/2017, IDC, Left, Stage IIIC, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 12/15/2017 Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left; Prophylactic mastectomy: Right Dx 12/27/2017, DCIS/IDC, Left, 6cm+, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, 5/11 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Radiation Therapy 1/16/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol) Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane)
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Jan 11, 2019 08:35PM Falconer wrote:

Hi,

I breastfed all three of my children- ages 20, 17, and 5 for a year plus. I was diagnosed two years ago when my youngest was 3. My midwife told me that breastfeeding was great protection against Bc. So when I started the mini pill a year after my youngest, I hoped that all the nursing I did would protect me from BC and allow me to take the pill safely. It didn't. So I think it was my family history and taking the pill- my mom never breastfed any of us and she developed BC in her 50s. That's my two cents. Sorry you're here in this boat. Best to you
Strong is the new strong. Dx at 45. Onco 16. Monthly Lupron shots Nov. 2016-December 2017 Dx 7/2016, IDC, Left, 1cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx 7/2016, DCIS, Left, 5cm, Stage 0, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 5/29/2017 Reconstruction (left): DIEP flap Surgery Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left Radiation Therapy Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane), Femara (letrozole), Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Jan 14, 2019 08:39PM bestrongforeveryone wrote:

I just got diagnosed and I only finished breastfeeding 8 months ago. I pumped most of the time and also low milk supply. notbsure if any connections but seem like lots new mums diagnosed with BC also breastfed. breastfeeding really prevent BC? I thought it is the oppsite case

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May 30, 2019 06:46PM iChan25 wrote:

I was diagnosed when I was weaning my then 20 month old. I think it was probably there before but couldn't feel it from all the lumpiness caused by breastfeeding. I didn't have low supply, in fact I had oversupply that lasted for almost 10 months until my son started eating solids more frequently.

Dx 3/14/2019, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+ (FISH) Chemotherapy 4/1/2019 AC Targeted Therapy 5/28/2019 Perjeta (pertuzumab)
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May 31, 2019 12:05AM ShetlandPony wrote:

As I understand it, breastfeeding is helpful for prevention IF the first pregnancy is before age 30. It makes the breast tissue settle down. But after age 30 pregnancy raises bc risk for a while. As for why, I think in time it will be shown that most women with premenopausal bc have a genetic susceptibility (perhaps as yet unknown). It’s not your fault. Say it. “It’s not my fault.”

2011 Stage I ILC 1.5cm grade1 ITCs sn Lumpectomy,radiation,tamoxifen. 2014 Stage IV ILC mets breast,liver. TaxolNEAD. Ibrance+letrozole 2yrs. Fas+afinitor nope. XelodaNEAD 2yrs. Eribulin,Doxil nope. SUMMIT FaslodexHerceptinNeratinib for Her2mut NEAD
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Jun 1, 2019 12:01AM gb2115 wrote:

I breastfed (well, pumped actually) about 4 years before diagnosis. The cancer side NEVER gave nearly as much milk as the non cancer side. I could pump 8-12 oz out of the left but the right would be 3-4 on a good pump session. I have always wondered if there was something to that.

Dx IDC in October 2016, stage 2A, 1.2 cm ER/PR+ Her2-, Grade 2, 1/3 nodes. Mammaprint low risk luminal A, Lumpectomy + radiation + tamoxifen. Age 38 at diagnosis.
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Jun 3, 2019 02:36PM Lexica wrote:

ShetlandPony - My first daughter was born the day after my 30th birthday... Oi. I know, though - IT'S NOT MY FAULT. Thanks :)

Diagnosed at 34. 2 years of Ibrance via PALLAS trial (ends 4/2020) Dx 7/2017, IDC, Left, Stage IIIC, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 12/15/2017 Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left; Prophylactic mastectomy: Right Dx 12/27/2017, DCIS/IDC, Left, 6cm+, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, 5/11 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Radiation Therapy 1/16/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol) Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane)
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Jun 3, 2019 02:40PM Lexica wrote:

Also, when I sought my second opinion from Hopkins (from an Oncologist that actually works at the same Federal campus as I do but does her clinic hours at Hopkins - small world), she asked me if my kid stopped wanting to nurse from the cancer side. I didn't remember, honestly, but she said she was convinced the cancer made the milk taste funny and babies usually stopped nursing from the cancer breast. Just her anecdotal opinion, but I was always curious if it was true!

Diagnosed at 34. 2 years of Ibrance via PALLAS trial (ends 4/2020) Dx 7/2017, IDC, Left, Stage IIIC, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 12/15/2017 Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left; Prophylactic mastectomy: Right Dx 12/27/2017, DCIS/IDC, Left, 6cm+, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, 5/11 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Radiation Therapy 1/16/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol) Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane)
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Jun 12, 2019 01:11AM IM2C wrote:

This happened to me. I was breastfeeding my 17 month old when I was diagnosed. She never had a side preference, but I know from when I had to pump that my cancer side (the right) always had less output than my other side. My imaging showed that my tumor was completely blocking some ducts (I forget the word for this - necro-something, it showed on my imaging reports which I assume caused the difference in milk volume. With IDC, this makes sense - the cancer grows in your ducts, so it can affect supply. Mine did, anyway.

Dx 5/2019, IDC, Right, 2cm, Stage IIA, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ Surgery Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Right Chemotherapy Other Targeted Therapy Perjeta (pertuzumab) Chemotherapy Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone) Targeted Therapy Herceptin (trastuzumab)
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Jun 12, 2019 10:18PM Tresjoli2 wrote:

I had low supply with both children, and was diagnosed when my daughter was two, following two miscarriages. My MO believes I had PABC - pregnancy associated breast cancer.

Diagnosed at age 40 after going for my baseline mammogram. Dx 4/21/2015, IDC, Left, <1cm, Stage IA, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (FISH) Dx 4/21/2015, DCIS, Left, 4cm, Stage 0, Grade 3 Surgery 5/18/2015 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Targeted Therapy 6/19/2015 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Chemotherapy 6/19/2015 Taxol (paclitaxel) Chemotherapy 8/7/2015 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Radiation Therapy 9/23/2015 Whole-breast: Breast Hormonal Therapy 10/11/2015 Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Oct 2, 2019 01:49AM LMP100 wrote:

I was diagnosed about 3 months after weaning my 20 month old. I thought it was just a cyst or something from weaning. My son always preferred the left breast, and I have the tumor in the right. I did make less in the right, but that could have been due to his preference for the other breast. The tumor seemed to appear quickly.

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Oct 10, 2019 11:54PM Anotherone wrote:

I was diagnosed when still breastfeeding an almost a 2 yo. Cancer side had less milk but the child did not Express any preferences. The whole breast was one big lump :(.

Primary in 2006, metastasis 2019. Sorry can lot log in diagnosis and treatment info properly - it gets jumbled. Dx 10/10/2006, IDC, Left, Stage IIIC, metastasized to lungs, Grade 3, 4/9 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ Dx 7/1/2019, IDC, Stage IV, metastasized to lungs Chemotherapy 9/17/2019 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Surgery Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Left; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement Radiation Therapy External: Chest wall Targeted Therapy Herceptin (trastuzumab)
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May 2, 2020 04:34PM smiling_brenda wrote:

I heard some anecdotal evidence that mortality and recurrence is higher with pregnancy associated breast cancer. My MO has said that there is no real evidence/study to support this, so the findings are largely anecdotal.

Has anyone heard anything different from their oncologists? Also, is there any evidence that this could happen again if I were to get pregnant?

I was diagnosed a few weeks before by daughters 1st birthday. I was still breastfeeding.

Dx at 34. Oncotype 22. Dx 5/1/2019, IDC, Right, <1cm, Stage IIA, Grade 2, 1/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 6/10/2019 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Chemotherapy 8/1/2019 Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel) Radiation Therapy 12/9/2019 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes Hormonal Therapy 2/1/2020 Arimidex (anastrozole), Zoladex (goserelin)
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Jun 9, 2020 08:40PM Each_day_2018 wrote:

I know this is an older post, but wanted to chime.I initially went to the doctor regarding a palpable lump at age 29, about a year after weaning my third child.

They told me due to my age and 3 pregnancies/breastfeeding within 6 years, it was likely changes from stopping breastfeeding. But with my 3rd child, I had a lot of trouble producing milk, especially on the left side, which is where the cancer ended up being...

Diagnosed at age 31. Dx 6/28/2018, IDC, Left, 4cm, Stage IIIC, Grade 2, 3/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx 9/6/2018, LCIS, Left, <1cm, Grade 2, 3/4 nodes, ER+, HER2- Surgery 9/6/2018 Mastectomy: Left Chemotherapy 10/11/2018 AC + T (Taxol) Radiation Therapy 4/28/2019 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Surgery 8/29/2019 Prophylactic ovary removal Hormonal Therapy Arimidex (anastrozole)
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Jun 11, 2020 04:07PM Lexica wrote:

So frustrating that they were dismissive. At least do the due diligence and check things out. How are you doing now?

Diagnosed at 34. 2 years of Ibrance via PALLAS trial (ends 4/2020) Dx 7/2017, IDC, Left, Stage IIIC, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 12/15/2017 Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left; Prophylactic mastectomy: Right Dx 12/27/2017, DCIS/IDC, Left, 6cm+, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, 5/11 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (IHC) Radiation Therapy 1/16/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes, Chest wall Chemotherapy AC + T (Taxol) Hormonal Therapy Aromasin (exemestane)
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Jun 11, 2020 04:36PM tzoul wrote:

I was also diagnosed during breastfeeding my 2y boy. In one week we had to stop due to the surgery (I had mastectomy first). I think that was one of the difficult parts (so many changes for my baby).

Dx 2/24/2017, Right, 2cm, Stage IIIC, metastasized to lungs, Grade 3, 22/28 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ Chemotherapy 3/28/2017 AC + T (Taxotere)

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