LACTATION AFTER CONSERVATIVE BREAST SURGERY COMBINED WITH RADIATION-THERAPY

Radiosensitivity of the mammary gland and the effect of therapeutic ra diation on lactation has not been defined. To investigate lactation fo llowing conservative surgical management and megavoltage radiation tre atments for early breast carcinoma, data were collected from a nationa l survey of 2,582 members of the American Society of Therapeutic Radio logy and Oncology. This study reports 53 women who became pregnant aft er lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation treatments with an a verage dose of 180-200 cGy. The mean daily total dose to the breast wa s 49.4 Gy and to the boost area 15 cGy either with electrons or implan t. Of these patients, 34% were able to exhibit some form of lactation from the irradiated breast; 24.5% were able to successfully breast-fee d from the involved breast. Results of the study document that bilater al lactation can successfully occur after conservative surgery and rad iation therapy in approximately 1 in 4 women.