ASO Author Reflections: Is Breastfeeding Still Possible After Breast Cancer Treatment?

Young women with breast cancer tend to have a diagnosis of cancer at advanced stages and poorer survival rates than older women.1,2 An important behavior that warrants attention among breast cancer survivors of reproductive age is breastfeeding. In addition to benefits for the infant, breastfeeding can improve survival rates and overall quality of life for breast cancer survivors of reproductive age. Although more evidence is needed, breast cancer survivors are advised to wait for 1 to 2 years after treatment before they attempt conception and breastfeeding.3 Given that the quality and volume of milk in the treated breast might be significantly affected after breast cancer treatment, breastfeeding from the unaffected breast may be the best option for many breast cancer survivors. This study examined two research questions: How prevalent is breastfeeding among breast cancer survivors after breast cancer treatment, and what are the factors associated with breastfeeding among breast cancer survivors?4 …