Breast-feeding after breast cancer: if you wish, madam

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor-affecting women during the child bearing period. With the rising trend in delaying pregnancy later in life, the issue of subsequent pregnancy and lactation following breast cancer diagnosis has been more frequently encountered. In this context, data is scarce particularly those addressing the issue of lactation. In this review, we discussed different endocrinal, clinical and biological aspects dealing with breast-feeding after breast cancer in an attempt to determine how safe and feasible this approach developed world and 25% in the developing world diagnosed below the age of 40 [2, 3]. These young women have a poorer overall survival and a doubled risk of recurrence compared to older patients [4]. However, with the advances in early diagnosis and tailored adjuvant therapies, breast cancer mortality has been decreasing in all age cohorts leading to more young women surviving their cancer [5]. Additionally, there has been a trend toward delaying pregnancy until later in life [6] and thus the issue of subsequent pregnancy and breast-feeding is becoming more relevant and worth consideration.