Studies have shown that most women who have had radiation therapy can only produce a very limited supply of milk from their treated breast. Only 1 woman in a study of 13 treated breast cancer patients was able to produce a normal milk supply from her treated breast. The reason for decreased lactation is that the radiation damages the milk ducts of the treated breast.
However, most women are able to produce enough milk from the untreated breast to make up for the reduced milk production in the treated breast. |