Screening mammo during extended breastfeeding?

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Jmsis
Jmsis Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

My older sister was dx'd with Stage 2 breast cancer at 33, with bone mets 2 yrs later. She is BRCA neg and no other family history. I have been seeing a breast specialist since the time of her dx who recommended a baseline screening mammogram 3 yrs ago. I was breastfeeding at the time and planned to continue for another couple yrs, so she recommended it even though I was nursing. We waited until my baby was nursing less often and I got a baseline which was abnormal, the 6 month follow-up improved so whatever they saw was thought to be breastfeeding related.  I had ultrasounds twice which were fine. I continued to nurse through my next pregnancy and this baby is 6 months old. I typically nurse until my kids are 2-2.5.  I have been told screening breast MRI isn't accurate in breastfeeding moms with too many false positives and that mammogram doesn't pick up much in a breastfeeding mom but the Dr wants me to have one anyway since it has been 2 yrs since my last bilateral.  I go for clinical breast exams every 6 months.  Do your doctors recommend screening mammo during breastfeeding? Is the radiation exposure worth it if you won't get a great picture anyway? Mine was hesitant to advise weaning even with my toddler since nursing is one of the few things I can do likely to reduce my risk, and I certainly am not ready to wean this baby who is six months.  Any advice is welcome!

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  • Jmsis
    Jmsis Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2014

    anyone?

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  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited May 2014

    When I was breastfeeding my doctor, and a breast surgeon to whom I was referred, both told me they could not get a reliable mammogram until six months after my son stopped nursing. (I don't know if this is accurate, but it's what they told me.)

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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited May 2014

    Sorry you're in this situation, it's a tricky one.  I know I had a diagnostic mammogram while I'd been breastfeeding for 6 months but also had an ultrasound of my right sided lump and then an mri to help see if I might have bilateral tumors, since the left mammo was hard to read.  From what I'd read online, I pumped just prior to the mammo and u/s, but really the place I had them done didn't know what to do with an actively lactating patient (and wouldn't have even asked me to pump if I hadn't offered) since they don't see it very often, which may be why you're not getting too many replies.  BTW that's awesome you're able to bf that long!  I had to stop early due to chemo :(.

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  • krisnanbrandy123
    krisnanbrandy123 Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2014

    I am BRCA 1 positive.  I also nurse until my children are about 2.5 yrs old or so.  I was nursing when I found out about the gene mutation.  My breast surgeon who is very highly regarded had me do a breast MRI.  Clear.  Six months later I was still nursing but planning to wean to prepare for PBMX.   She had me do mammo. Radiologist and surgeon could read results fine.  But keep in mind I was nursing a two year old maybe a few times a day and once at night.  Not a baby.  Different.   She also told me the benefits of nursing were pretty much done---that I should wean.  But again--I am 40, have the mutation and my son was 2.5 when I weaned and I nursed my first for three years.    I had my surgery and pathology was clear.  I found that weaning through all this was really tough.  I so get it.  

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  • WolfsLady
    WolfsLady Member Posts: 111
    edited May 2014

    I didn't have one done but I was told that a mammogram could be done while nursing.  If I'd known my 2nd Aunt was Dx'd with BC I would have gone ahead and done it.  My doctor did recommend finding a place that was familiar with doing them on lactating women.  He also recommended waiting until he was not nursing more than once a night.  

    With a family history I would 100% do it and continue nursing if at all possible.  I pretty much let my son self wean (I had stopped producing and he was using me as a pacifier so I did nudge him along.  But he was well over 2.5)  and I got a lot of grief about it from friends and family members who thought it was too long.  One friend actually told me that when you nurse a boy past 6 months he's more likely to turn gay.  (Rolls eyes)    If they are unable to see well or have other concerns then you might revisit rather you should wean or not.  

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