By Christina S.
Originally published in 2010 in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly LLLI publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was converted to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/
As a La leche League Leader in Milan, Italy, I wish to share a very special case with you.
A mother who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and who now wanted to breastfeed contacted me. Six years ago, she battled cancer and one-fourth of her left breast had been removed. Nerves and ducts in the breast had been cut and she underwent radiation therapy.
Four years later, a malignant tumor was detected in the breast and she had a mastectomy.
One year after the second surgery, she had her first child, a baby girl. When the mother called me, her baby was six weeks old. She had wanted to breastfeed, but comments from health specialists had discouraged her.
After a month and a half, frustrated, suffering, and often in tears because she felt she was missing out on the experience of breastfeeding her baby, she read about La Leche League International and the use of at-breast supplementer. She came to me, thinking that this tool might be a good solution and that I could possibly help her to experience breastfeeding with her baby.
I said I would call her back after doing some research on her situation. After reading all the information I could find in LLLI publications in Italian translations, I was convinced that this mother could breastfeed her baby. A researcher from a cancer research institute in Milan confirmed my findings. The mother decided to give breastfeeding a try.
After some weeks, she started producing milk, while continuing to supplement. It was an emotional experience for her to see her baby latching on and nursing. When I met with the mother, I was amazed to see how this bottle-fed child got excited at the sight of her mother’s breast and latched on very naturally. She suckled until she fell asleep with a blissful smile on her face. The mother and I shed tears of joy together. She went on to breastfeed her daughter into toddlerhood.
I witnessed how the human body is capable of renewing and “repairing” itself. Psychological and practical support makes a huge difference in overcoming challenging situations.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources from topics in this story:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Last Updated: October 14, 2025 by Yael Breimer
Breastfeeding After Breast Cancer: A Look Back
By Christina S.
Originally published in 2010 in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly LLLI publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was converted to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/
As a La leche League Leader in Milan, Italy, I wish to share a very special case with you.
A mother who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and who now wanted to breastfeed contacted me. Six years ago, she battled cancer and one-fourth of her left breast had been removed. Nerves and ducts in the breast had been cut and she underwent radiation therapy.
Four years later, a malignant tumor was detected in the breast and she had a mastectomy.
One year after the second surgery, she had her first child, a baby girl. When the mother called me, her baby was six weeks old. She had wanted to breastfeed, but comments from health specialists had discouraged her.
I said I would call her back after doing some research on her situation. After reading all the information I could find in LLLI publications in Italian translations, I was convinced that this mother could breastfeed her baby. A researcher from a cancer research institute in Milan confirmed my findings. The mother decided to give breastfeeding a try.
After some weeks, she started producing milk, while continuing to supplement. It was an emotional experience for her to see her baby latching on and nursing. When I met with the mother, I was amazed to see how this bottle-fed child got excited at the sight of her mother’s breast and latched on very naturally. She suckled until she fell asleep with a blissful smile on her face. The mother and I shed tears of joy together. She went on to breastfeed her daughter into toddlerhood.
I witnessed how the human body is capable of renewing and “repairing” itself. Psychological and practical support makes a huge difference in overcoming challenging situations.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources from topics in this story:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
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Category: Breastfeeding and Health Conditions, Relactation
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