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Failure to lactate: A possible late effect of cranial radiation
Author(s) -
Johnston Karen,
Vowels Marcus,
Carroll Susan,
Neville Kristen,
Cohn Richard
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.21291
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , offspring , pregnancy , lactation , late effect , pediatrics , lymphoblastic leukemia , retrospective cohort study , childhood cancer , cancer , surgery , leukemia , genetics , biology
Abstract We conducted a retrospective review of the lactation experience of female survivors who received 24 Gy cranial radiotherapy as CNS prophylaxis for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood prior to 1982 and who attend the Long‐Term Follow‐Up Clinic at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Australia. Median time since diagnosis is 28 years (range 25–37 years). Twelve have produced offspring. Ten report minimal or no breast changes during pregnancy and failure to lactate postpartum. All patients remain in remission. These data suggest a high risk of failure of lactation in women treated during childhood with 24 Gy cranial irradiation. Awareness of this possibility can assist in counseling. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:721–722. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.